Angel, Peacock, and Three Tahitians

The evocative work Angel, Peacock, and Three Tahitians was created by Paul Gauguin French, 1848-1903 in 1902, just a year before his death. This intricate piece is classified as a print, specifically employing the medium of transfer drawing in brown and black ink on delicate cream Japanese paper. This technical choice allowed Gauguin a nuanced control over line quality and texture, bridging the gap between traditional drawing and printmaking practices.

Executed during his final years in the Marquesas Islands, the drawing is typical of Gauguin’s complex synthesis of Symbolism and ethnographic observation. The subject matter intentionally contrasts European religious imagery, represented by the angular angel and the regal peacock, with figures from the South Pacific. The three native Tahitians depicted alongside these symbols reflect Gauguin's ongoing quest to capture a perceived unspoiled existence, often filtering Polynesian culture through a distinctively French artistic lens. The composition exemplifies the artist’s mature graphic style, emphasizing bold, simplified forms and heavy contours that define his late period.

As Gauguin continued his explorations into graphic arts, the production of these rare transfer drawings became a significant part of his oeuvre. This unique methodology speaks to the ongoing innovation of the artist, even as his health declined. Representing a pivotal moment in his career and the history of prints in France, this striking work is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.