Noa Noa (Fragrant), from the Noa Noa Suite

Noa Noa (Fragrant), from the Noa Noa Suite, is a significant wood-block print by the influential French Post-Impressionist Paul Gauguin (French, 1848-1903). Created between 1893 and 1894, this piece exemplifies Gauguin’s experimental approach to the graphic arts following his first trip to Tahiti. The work was rendered in black ink on delicate grayish-ivory China paper, showcasing the artist’s preference for bold, highly textured surfaces achieved through this demanding medium.

The title, Noa Noa, translates from Tahitian as "Fragrant" or "Sweet-Smelling," and references the memoir Gauguin wrote about his search for a "primitive" and untainted existence away from modern France. The wood-block prints were initially intended to illustrate this semi-autobiographical text, providing stylized visual counterparts to his poetic prose. Gauguin chose the raw aesthetic of printmaking for its ability to convey simplified, often mysterious forms and stark contrasts, perfectly aligning with his emerging Symbolist vision of Polynesian culture.

This specific impression of the suite carries a unique historical footprint. While the prints were conceived by Gauguin, this edition was printed later by the artist's son, Pola Gauguin, a Danish artist born in France, and published by Christian Cato in Copenhagen. This complex publication history highlights the lasting legacy and continued interest in Gauguin’s late-career prints. As a crucial component of the artist’s graphic output, this impression of Noa Noa (Fragrant) resides in the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection, where it serves as a key example of Gauguin’s Symbolist mastery and his enduring influence on modern printmaking.