The influential Post-Impressionist Paul Gauguin created the series of eight woodcuts titled Noa Noa (Fragrant Scent) from Noa Noa (Fragrant Scent) in 1894. This specific print is one component of the larger, illustrated prose poem that documented the French artist’s first extended journey to Tahiti (1891-1893). Gauguin embraced the woodcut medium upon his return to Paris, seeking a primal, direct aesthetic that mirrored the perceived exoticism of the South Pacific. The resulting prints are characterized by their raw, expressive carving and their powerful, block-like forms, departing significantly from the smooth linearity common in European printmaking at the time.
The eight woodcuts collectively known as Noa Noa were instrumental in Gauguin’s attempts to disseminate his Symbolist vision of Tahitian life. The process of producing these works was highly experimental; Gauguin carved the blocks himself, creating deep gashes and rough surfaces that were intended to carry the texture and immediacy of the tropical environment. While the matrix blocks were carved in 1894, reflecting the artist’s initial enthusiasm for the medium, this specific impression belongs to a later edition. Due to the difficulty and cost involved in printing high-quality woodcuts, this particular impression was not published until 1921, years after Gauguin’s death, forming part of a later portfolio intended to solidify his artistic legacy.
Gauguin utilized the stark contrasts inherent in the woodcut technique to explore complex themes of myth, sensuality, and spiritual escape, key elements of his self-imposed exile. The dense, abstract composition and powerful graphic quality exemplify the artist's desire to merge text and image, creating a truly unified artistic statement rooted in his personal experience. This work, essential for understanding Gauguin’s mature aesthetic and his profound influence on later Symbolist and Expressionist prints, is held in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art.
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