Le sourire: Journal sérieux, Nov. 1899

Le sourire: Journal sérieux, Nov. 1899 by Paul Gauguin French, 1848-1903 is a remarkable example of the artist’s highly personalized graphic work created late in his career while residing in Tahiti. Dating from 1899, this print served as the November issue of Gauguin’s private, self-published journal, which he produced to communicate his artistic theories and criticisms directly to his circle of friends and dealers in France. The execution of the work is technically complex and experimental, utilizing mimeograph in brownish-black ink for the main body of text and some imagery, which is combined with distinctive wood-block prints rendered in dense black ink on cream wove paper. This hybridization of modern reproductive technology (mimeograph) with the traditional, expressive quality of the woodcut underscores Gauguin's persistent innovation in the graphic arts.

Although physically separated from the European art market, the artist used Le sourire (The Smile) to maintain a sharp dialogue with Parisian avant-garde society. The bold, stylized wood-block prints included in the journal are characteristic of the Symbolist aesthetic Gauguin championed, serving as powerful visual metaphors accompanying his often-acerbic commentary. The production of these graphic pieces in 1899 highlights Gauguin’s profound impact on the development of modern prints. This historical document resides within the esteemed collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, offering scholars crucial insight into the final creative period of the influential artist. As significant artifacts of late 19th-century French graphic production, detailed images of these limited edition prints are often studied in the public domain.