Here We Make Love (Te Faruru), from Fragrance (Noa Noa)

Here We Make Love (Te Faruru), from Fragrance (Noa Noa) by Paul Gauguin, is a profound example of the artist’s groundbreaking use of the woodcut medium following his initial return from Tahiti. Created between 1893 and 1894, this work is a striking woodcut printed in color on wove paper, demonstrating Gauguin's commitment to expressive, rough textures that departed dramatically from the polished academic prints of the period. This piece belongs to the wider Noa Noa series, which was intended to illustrate Gauguin’s semi-autobiographical travel journal documenting his attempts to find "primitive" inspiration in the South Pacific.

The composition focuses intensely on human figures rendered in the flattened, symbolic style characteristic of Post-Impressionism. Gauguin depicts two figures intimately embracing, their bodies merged within a landscape defined by simplified forms and bold, non-naturalistic color application. The Tahitian title, Te Faruru, translates roughly to 'to cuddle' or 'to make love,' positioning the scene as an intimate moment of connection. Gauguin’s aesthetic choices, informed by his fascination with Primitivism, deliberately seek to emphasize the elemental, spiritual reality of his subjects over strict anatomical realism, reflecting his rejection of European bourgeois life.

This significant work in graphic art, Here We Make Love (Te Faruru), is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a cornerstone example of Gauguin’s revolutionary contribution to modern prints. The powerful execution and narrative make this woodcut an important historical document of Gauguin’s artistic journey and cultural observations. Due to the age and historical importance of the work, high-quality reproductions of these seminal modern prints are frequently made available through public domain resources, ensuring global access to this pivotal moment in the history of printmaking.