Arearea no Varua Ino (Words of the Devil) [recto]

Arearea no Varua Ino (Words of the Devil) [recto] by Paul Gauguin, created in 1894, is a compelling and unique example of the artist's experimental approach to printmaking. This complex image was executed as a watercolor monotype on delicate Japan paper. The use of the monotype process allowed Gauguin to create unique, painterly impressions that defied the conventional reproducibility associated with prints during the late 19th century, a key phase of the 1876 to 1900 period.

The technique involved applying watercolors directly to a surface and transferring the wet pigments to the thin paper, resulting in an original, richly textured image where variations in color density and line are inherent to the process. This classification as a Print highlights Gauguin's mastery of different media as he sought ways to disseminate his intensely symbolic and often personal imagery. Notably, the paper is mounted to tan cardboard, the verso of which contains a fragment of another print, suggesting the artist’s pragmatic habit of reusing materials or incorporating preparatory works.

As a leading figure in French Post-Impressionism, Gauguin consistently sought subjects and settings beyond European modernity, utilizing the culture of the Pacific islands as a stage for profound explorations of myth and spirituality. The original title, which translates to "Words of the Devil," suggests the artist's ongoing fascination with the interplay between Polynesian folklore and imported Christian concepts of temptation or sin, themes he explored repeatedly during his stays in Tahiti. The dense, expressive quality of this particular work encapsulates the aesthetic concerns of the French avant-garde leading up to the turn of the century.

This unique watercolor monotype is currently held in the esteemed prints collection of the National Gallery of Art. Thanks to its age and stature, high-resolution reproductions of Arearea no Varua Ino (Words of the Devil) [recto] are often available through public domain initiatives, allowing broader access to Gauguin's highly influential body of work.