Noa Noa (Fragrant), from the Noa Noa Suite

Noa Noa (Fragrant), from the Noa Noa Suite is a unique wood-block print created by the French artist Paul Gauguin (1848-1903) between 1893 and 1894. This highly experimental work is a remarkable example of Gauguin’s innovative and often subversive approach to printmaking, moving far beyond the simple reproduction methods common in prints of the era.

The artist began the process using a standard carved wood-block print in black ink, but dramatically customized the final impression by applying several distinct layers of mixed media. These subsequent additions include direct touches of reddish-brown watercolor and black ink over a yellow ink tone block, building complexity into the surface. Gauguin’s technique further involved transferring oil-based media-including golden-yellow, orange, and green-onto the paper. This highly viscous and unusual combination was bound using natural substances, notably beeswax and conifer resin, probably pine resin, applied to cream Japanese paper.

This specific impression exemplifies Gauguin’s increasing reliance on texture and color as he chronicled his initial travels and experiences in Tahiti. The title of the work, which translates to "Fragrant," references the sensory and spiritual journey the artist undertook. This complex print, created upon Gauguin’s return to France, serves as a visual chapter of the accompanying manuscript written during that period. The work is significant within the history of modern prints, showcasing Gauguin’s embrace of Symbolism and Primitivism to convey cultural meaning. This important piece resides in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.