Manao tupapau (She Thinks of the Ghost or The Ghost Thinks of Her), from the Noa Noa Suite

Manao tupapau (She Thinks of the Ghost or The Ghost Thinks of Her), from the Noa Noa Suite, is a complex wood-block print created by Paul Gauguin French, 1848-1903, between 1893 and 1894. This highly experimental work stems from the artist's documentation of his first extended stay in Tahiti, where he compiled the manuscript for his autobiographical work, Noa Noa. Gauguin actively pushed the boundaries of printmaking, utilizing three separate printings in reddish-brown, black, and light black ink to achieve rich layering and tonal depth.

Beyond the elaborate printing process, Gauguin further customized this impression with hand additions. He applied precise touches of brush and black gouache, along with silver-gray watercolor, which served to alter the original black areas of the composition. This intensive layering, printed on ivory laid Japanese paper and laminated onto ivory wove Japanese paper, showcases the artist’s groundbreaking technical approach to prints and his move away from traditional French academic styles.

The subject matter of Manao tupapau explores indigenous Tahitian mythology and psychological experience, a recurring motif in Gauguin’s work from this period. The composition captures the perceived superstitious terror of a young woman confronted by the tupapau (ghost or spirit). Gauguin’s innovative use of abstracted forms and bold contrast fundamentally influenced subsequent generations of graphic artists. This significant impression, classified as a print of the French Post-Impressionist period, resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, illustrating the critical phase of Gauguin’s printmaking mastery.