Animal Studies

Animal Studies by Paul Gauguin, created around 1901-1902, is a remarkable example of the artist's intense exploration into graphic techniques during his final years in the South Seas. Classified as a highly unusual print, this work utilizes the specialized and laborious method of the traced monotype. Gauguin executed the composition using both black and red inks, transferring the imagery onto thin wove paper, which was subsequently laid down onto a secondary piece of wove paper for increased stability. This complex combination of materials and dual coloration highlights the artist’s commitment to achieving rich texture and unique line quality, characteristic of his innovative late printmaking efforts. It is held within the esteemed collection of the National Gallery of Art.

The subject matter focuses on animal forms, rendered with Gauguin’s distinctive reliance on strong, graphic outlines and somewhat flattened perspectives. These intimate Animal Studies reflect the artist’s deep engagement with the exotic natural environment of Tahiti, capturing the essence of the creatures without highly detailed realism. This piece falls specifically within the 1901 to 1925 period, representing a key moment in the late Symbolist and Post-Impressionist evolution within French art history. Gauguin often used his prints not merely as reproductions of his paintings but as primary works of art, treating each impression as a unique, spontaneous drawing.

Unlike traditional etching or lithography, the traced monotype technique allows for immediate, unique transfers, ensuring that each impression, while technically categorized among prints, retains the direct spontaneity of the original drawing. Gauguin was particularly inventive with print media, using it as an effective means of disseminating his symbolic visual language and exploring the interplay of color and shadow. The juxtaposition of the two inks—black dominating the outline and red providing subtle depth and mood—underscores the graphic power of the composition. These seminal works by the French master remain widely studied today, ensuring the continued accessibility of his graphic output through major museum collections available in the public domain.