Oviri (The Savage) [recto]

Oviri (The Savage) [recto] by Paul Gauguin, created between 1894 and 1895, is a significant example of fin-de-siècle Symbolism rendered through the graphic arts. This powerful woodcut, printed in brown ink on delicate Japanese paper, captures Gauguin's profound artistic engagement with non-Western mythology following his initial stay in Tahiti. Dating to the height of the Symbolist movement, the work aligns perfectly with the aesthetic and philosophical transformations occurring in French culture during the period from 1876 to 1900.

The central figure is Oviri, a representation of a Polynesian goddess associated with mourning, destruction, and creation, derived from traditional myths that Gauguin deeply studied. She is typically shown grasping a dying wolf or cub, symbolizing the tension between the wild and the domestic, reflecting the artist’s own complex ideas about civilization and the primordial. Gauguin intentionally utilized the rugged, often brutal, quality of the woodcut technique. This deliberate primitivism and coarseness allowed the raw grain of the wood and the expressive, heavy lines to enhance the figure’s savage energy, emphasizing the themes of spiritual and emotional depth central to Symbolism. The creation of the original Oviri sculpture, followed by this powerful series of prints, marked a pivotal moment in the artist’s experimentation with media beyond painting.

This exceptional impression of the print forms part of the distinguished collection of the National Gallery of Art. While Gauguin is primarily known for his celebrated Post-Impressionist canvases, his innovative approach to prints, like this striking depiction, demonstrates his full scope as a visionary artist exploring the intersection of identity and spirituality. Many of Gauguin’s major prints, including various states of Oviri (The Savage), are today widely available for study and reference, accessible through major institutional collections and public domain initiatives, ensuring the continuous study of this foundational French masterwork.