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 experimental approach to graphic arts during his second major period in France. Created between 1894 and 1895, this print utilizes a wood-block technique that Gauguin radically manipulated. The black ink was brushed and treated with solvent directly onto ivory Japanese paper, laid down upon a cream backing sheet, creating blurred contours and varying opacity that elevate the surface beyond conventional woodcuts.

The imagery directly relates to Gauguin’s pivotal 1892 oil painting of the same title, inspired by his time in Tahiti. The subject depicts a young Polynesian woman lying prone in a state of terror, facing the spectator but gazing inward. The shadowy, spectral figure seated nearby embodies the tupapau—the spirit or ghost in Tahitian lore—a physical manifestation of the girl’s deep-seated fear.

Gauguin’s intense focus on interior psychological states and indigenous mythology positions this work firmly within the Symbolist movement of late 19th century France. The heavy shadows and ambiguous light emphasize the confrontation between Western artistic methods and Tahitian cultural beliefs.

This technically innovative piece, categorized among the artist’s most important prints, demonstrates Gauguin's mastery in translating painterly drama into the graphic medium. The work resides in the distinguished collection of the Art Institute of Chicago and remains a celebrated example of the artist’s ongoing graphic inquiry. High-quality representations of the woodcut are frequently made available through public domain resources, allowing for continued scholarly study globally.