Manao Tupapau (She is Haunted by a Spirit)

Manao Tupapau (She is Haunted by a Spirit), created by Paul Gauguin between 1893 and 1894, is a defining example of his graphic exploration of Polynesian culture and spiritual life. As a French artist central to the Symbolist movement, Gauguin continually sought means to express his thematic obsessions beyond traditional painting, making works classified as prints, such as this piece, crucial to his artistic output. The work is executed as a color woodcut, skillfully utilizing both brown and black ink on delicate Japan paper.

This specific image dates from the period when Gauguin translated his powerful oil compositions into the raw, simplified visual language of printmaking, reflecting his engagement with Tahitian myths during his first residency on the island. The title translates literally to "She is Haunted by a Spirit," depicting a prone, nude figure lying face down on a bed, observed by a dark, looming entity referred to as the tupapau. The subject matter reflects the artist's fascination with indigenous fear, superstition, and the perceived mystery of the South Pacific.

Gauguin’s handling of the woodcut medium is distinctly primitive and highly intentional for the period 1876 to 1900. He utilized the grain and texture of the carved block to contribute a sense of anxiety and agitation to the final image, intensifying the emotional impact. The deep, heavy black ink used to render the spirit contrasts sharply with the warmer brown tones defining the room, creating an atmosphere of intense psychological drama. This significant piece, Manao Tupapau, is housed within the collection of the National Gallery of Art, offering scholars and the public access to one of the most recognized prints from the 1890s. As works by Gauguin transition fully into the public domain, the emotional depth and formal innovations of this woodcut continue to inspire contemporary graphic artists.