Fragrance (Noa Noa), small block
Original title: Fragrance (Noa Noa), small block
kurzbeschreibung
A sheet from Paul Gauguin's color woodcut "Duft (Noa Noa), kleiner Block" (1894–95) presents a figure in traditional attire within a natural setting. The subject belongs to the Noa Noa series, which grew out of Gauguin's stay in Tahiti, and was printed as a color woodcut on Japanese paper.
Description
The upright format is anchored by a single figure holding a book or loose sheet. Behind her, stylized plants and leaves appear in red, yellow, and green. The overall tonality remains dark, yet bright passages illuminate the foliage. Sharp outlines and deep shadows point to the woodcut technique.
Context
Between 1893 and 1897, Gauguin worked on the Noa Noa series, which draws on his experiences in Tahiti. The present woodcut was made after his return to France and was printed in an edition of about 25 to 30 impressions. It belongs to a group of ten woodcuts intended for the planned book "Noa Noa," but they were only later published separately.
Impact
The dark coloring and striking contours combine into a mysterious atmosphere. The stylized nature and the figure's calm pose evoke a meditative mood that hints at the exoticism of the South Seas.
Technique
For this color woodcut, several woodblocks were used, each applying a different color to the paper in succession. Printing was done on Japanese paper, valued for its fine texture and high absorbency. The sharp lines and bold application of color are characteristic of Gauguin's experimental printing process.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)