Oviri

The influential post-Impressionist master Paul Gauguin (French, 1848-1903) created the complex wood-block print Oviri in 1894. This highly textural work, whose title translates to 'Savage' or 'Wild Woman,' exemplifies the artist’s interest in synthesizing traditional printmaking techniques with modern, non-Western aesthetics. The recto image of Oviri is distinguished by a sophisticated color application: it was printed twice in contrasting deep-yellow ocher and black ink. The chosen support, cream wove paper mimicking Japanese vellum, was then meticulously mounted onto a mottled blue wove laminate card, achieving a dense, layered effect characteristic of Gauguin’s approach to the primitif.

The work is notable for its double-sided nature and experimental use of media. The reverse side features a distinct wood-block composition printed in black ink over a red ink tone block. Gauguin further manipulated this surface with brushwork and a solvent-thinned orange wash, underscoring his innovative methods for creating nuanced, painterly prints. This experimentation with textural variation and symbolic imagery reflects the cultural shifts occurring in late 19th-century France. Gauguin’s prolific production of prints during this period, often drawing inspiration from his experiences in the South Pacific, secured his legacy as a leading figure in the Symbolist movement. This historically significant piece is currently held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, preserving a crucial example of modern prints for scholars and the public domain.