Noanoa Tafel 45

Paul Gauguin

Noanoa Tafel 45 by Paul Gauguin

Chipping away at wood blocks in Tahiti, Gauguin created this print titled 'Le Sourire' (The Smile) for his book 'Noa Noa'. The design playfully mimics a banknote, with 'TAHITI' stamped in the corner and blank boxes that look like spaces for currency, perhaps mocking the very concept of value in paradise. Two stylized figures and a dog surround the text, capturing the artist's fascination with the 'primitive' mystery of island life. It’s a rough, expressive piece that shows how he tried to translate his tropical dreams into graphic art for folks back in France.

Technique
Woodcut
Material
Ink on paper
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