Maruru

The influential post-Impressionist Paul Gauguin created the remarkable print Maruru between 1893 and 1894. This highly textured work is a woodcut impressed onto delicate China paper, showcasing Gauguin’s experimental approach to the graphic arts. Unlike traditional polished engravings, Gauguin intentionally emphasized the raw, fragmented character of the wood grain, treating the printmaking process as integral to his expressive, anti-academic aesthetic.

The composition captures a characteristic scene from the artist's intensive period in the South Pacific. It depicts stylized human figures positioned near traditional thatched houses, enveloped by dense, primitive tropical trees. Gauguin often used these complex woodcuts to communicate cryptic narratives and emotional states relating to indigenous Tahitian life, contrasting this perceived spiritual purity with European modernity. His deliberate use of stark black-and-white contrasts and heavy outlines in this medium transforms the subject matter from mere documentation into symbolic representation.

Gauguin’s exploration of woodcuts like Maruru cemented his legacy as a modernist pioneer in the field of prints. These graphic works, often printed in small, limited editions, are considered essential elements of his oeuvre from the mid-1890s, revealing his deep commitment to Primitivism and non-Western forms of expression. This powerful piece currently resides in the respected collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Though many works from this period have entered the public domain, the rarity and quality of the original prints make them prized holdings for major institutions worldwide.