Woman with Figs (1894)
Original title: Woman with Figs
kurzbeschreibung
Paul Gauguin made the etching Woman with Figs in 1894. It depicts a seated woman at a table with fruit. Printed in green ink on zinc, the work combines drypoint, lavis, and soft-ground etching.
Description
A broad image field presents a woman seated at a table. On the tabletop lie dates and a plate with a light-colored dish. The woman wears a dark jacket and a headscarf. Behind her opens a rural landscape with trees and a house. The light appears subdued, and the tones remain predominantly gray.
Context
This print was created in 1894, after Gauguin's first trip to Tahiti and during a stay in France. The motif of a woman with exotic fruits echoes impressions of the South Seas. In those years, Gauguin devoted himself increasingly to printmaking.
Impact
The etching radiates calm and intimacy. The restrained coloration supports a pensive mood. Portrait and still life merge into a symbolic, almost enigmatic atmosphere.
Technique
For this work, Gauguin used a mixture of drypoint, lavis, and soft-ground etching on zinc. It was printed in green ink, giving the sheet an unusual color quality. The lavis allowed delicate tonal gradations and emphasizes the painterly approach.
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Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)