Caricatures of Gauguin and Governor Gallet, with headpiece from Le sourire

Caricatures of Gauguin and Governor Gallet, with headpiece from Le sourire by Paul Gauguin French, 1848-1903, offers a satirical glimpse into the artist's contentious relationship with colonial authorities around 1900. Classified specifically as a print, this complex work demonstrates Gauguin’s willingness to push the boundaries of media. It was executed using watercolor, black colored pencil, and touches of pen and black ink, all layered over a foundation that included both a transfer drawing in black and a wood-block print in black ink. The final composition was completed with blue watercolor on cream wove paper.

The intricacy of this mixed-media piece underscores the multidisciplinary approach Gauguin employed during his final years in the South Pacific. The subject matter directly addresses the tensions the artist experienced while living in Tahiti and the Marquesas, reflecting his disdain for the colonial administration, particularly Governor Gallet. The presence of the "headpiece from Le sourire" suggests its intended connection to graphic arts and publication, linking it back to the literary and artistic production centers of France, despite its remote creation.

Created toward the end of the Post-Impressionist movement, this piece uses the immediacy and freedom of caricature to deliver pointed social commentary. As a seminal work exploring political and personal subject matter, this print is highly valued by scholars and is currently held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. While the work is not yet in the public domain, it remains an important example of Gauguin's later graphic output.