Manao tupapau (She Thinks of the Ghost or The Ghost Thinks of Her)

Manao tupapau (She Thinks of the Ghost or The Ghost Thinks of Her) by Paul Gauguin (French, 1848-1903) is a powerful example of the artist's engagement with printmaking during his second period in Tahiti. Created around 1894-1895, this classification print utilizes the demanding medium of the wood-block, characterized by the artist’s specific technical decision to print the image twice in black ink upon luxurious cream Japanese paper. Gauguin, heavily influenced by his commitment to Symbolism and his immersion in Polynesian life, used prints not only to document his environment but also to further explore themes of native spirituality, fear, and exoticism. This specific technique, involving multiple layers of inking, allowed him to achieve rich, modulated tones and stark visual contrasts characteristic of his mature graphic work produced outside of France.

The subject of this striking wood-block print closely relates to the famous 1892 oil painting of the same name. It depicts a reclining Tahitian woman, possibly his partner Teha'amana, seemingly paralyzed by an unseen apparition or the profound fear of one, embodying the title’s ambiguous meaning. While the original painting focused on color and atmospheric tension, this print iteration emphasizes sharp lines and deep shadows, intensifying the visual narrative of primal anxiety. Gauguin sought to interpret Tahitian myth and psychology through these visual narratives, offering a subjective view of Polynesian life that captivated European audiences back in France. The rarity and technical complexity of this print make it a significant holding within the Art Institute of Chicago's renowned collection of late 19th-century graphic arts.