Head of a Tahitian Woman (recto), Sketches of Anatomical Details (verso)

The detailed study Head of a Tahitian Woman (recto), Sketches of Anatomical Details (verso) was created by Paul Gauguin French, 1848-1903, during his initial period in the South Pacific between 1891 and 1893. Classified as a drawing, the sheet was removed from one of the artist's sketchbooks, offering direct insight into Gauguin's methods during this vital era of artistic output. The primary side features an expressive portrait rendered in pen and brown ink on cream wove paper, which analysis suggests was originally purple ink that has discolored to its current hue over time. The careful handling of the line on the recto captures the distinctive features of his Tahitian subjects, linking this study to the major Symbolist paintings he produced upon arriving in the French colony.

Gauguin, the influential post-Impressionist master, relied heavily on drawings and sketches during this period to document his surroundings and plan his large-scale compositions. The reverse of the sheet, the verso, contains unrelated Sketches of Anatomical Details executed in graphite, suggesting the artist frequently repurposed available paper for varying needs. This dual-sided approach underscores Gauguin’s focus on the human form, whether in immediate portraiture or detailed anatomical practice, as he synthesized academic European drawing traditions with Polynesian subject matter.

This piece, originating from Gauguin’s pivotal self-exile far from France, provides invaluable documentation of his working methodology. The drawing resides today in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. As a key example of the artist’s preparatory work, it remains an essential reference for understanding his approach to composition and color. High-quality prints and digital reproductions of works like this are often made available through public domain initiatives, ensuring broad access to the material documentation of Gauguin’s career.