Te atua (The God), from the Noa Noa Suite

Art Historical Context

Paul Gauguin's *Te atua (The God, created in 1894, is a striking woodcut from his *Noa Noa* suite, inspired by the artist's transformative journey to Tahiti. Seeking escape from modern European society, Gauguin immersed in Polynesian culture, capturing its myths and spirituality in vivid, symbolic imagery. The title, translating to "The God" in Tahitian, evokes island's ancient deities, reflecting Gauguin's fascination with exoticism and primitivism—a hallmark of his Post-Impression style that rejected realism for bold, flattened forms and emotional depth. This print showcases Gauguin's innovative adaptation of Japanese ukiyo-e techniques, using a wood-block in black ink layered over a stenciled dark-red tone block on cream wove paper mimicking Japanese vellum. Measuring just 20.6 × 35.7 cm, its intimate scale invites close viewing, where rough-hewn lines and stark contrasts mimic carved wood idols, blending Western printmaking with Eastern influences. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, it exemplifies Gauguin's experimental printmaking during a pivotal period, bridging his paintings and the broader Symbolist movement. A window into his quest for a "savage" paradise, this work continues to captivate with its raw power and cultural fusion.

About the Artist

Paul Gauguin · 1848–1903

Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) was a French Post-Impressionist painter whose bold experiments with color, form, and subject matter made him one of the most influential figures in the transition from 19th-century art to modernism. His rejection of European civilization for the perceived authenticity of 'primitive' cultures established an archetype of artistic exile that continues to resonate. Gauguin's ...