Le sourire: Journal méchant, Feb. 1900 by Paul Gauguin (French, 1848-1903) offers a rare glimpse into the artist's self-published graphic output during his final years in the South Seas. Produced in 1900, this piece belongs to a short-lived, satirical periodical intended primarily for Gauguin’s intellectual circle and supporters back in metropolitan France. The work functions simultaneously as a communication tool and a sophisticated piece of experimental printmaking.
The technique employed in this edition is highly distinctive, combining the relatively new technology of the mimeograph with traditional relief printing. The descriptive or textual content of the journal was rendered using mimeograph in a brownish-black ink. This affordable method allowed for rapid, small-scale reproduction. This process is strikingly contrasted by the inclusion of a bold wood-block print in black ink, executed on cream wove paper. Gauguin, renowned for his innovative approach to the woodcut medium, utilized this stark technique to provide graphic elements that elevated the journal beyond a simple newsletter.
The blending of these techniques underscores Gauguin’s continued commitment to graphic arts as a crucial element of his artistic legacy, paralleling his famous Post-Impressionist paintings. This piece exemplifies how the artist used prints not merely for replication, but as a vehicle for personal expression and cultural critique directed toward his audience in France. This important historical print resides in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.
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