Plate with the Head of a Horned Devil, from the Suite of Late Wood-Block Prints

Plate with the Head of a Horned Devil, from the Suite of Late Wood-Block Prints, created by Paul Gauguin French, 1848-1903, between 1898 and 1899, exemplifies the artist’s raw, experimental approach to graphic arts late in his career. This print is a powerful exploration of Symbolist and perhaps autobiographical themes, rendered through a technically complex wood-block process.

The work’s distinct appearance results from a sophisticated use of color and layering. Gauguin first applied a pale yellow ocher ink to the thin ivory Japanese paper, followed by two separate printings of the wood block in black ink. This double application of the primary color enhances the density and expressive quality of the rough lines and forms, creating an unsettling visual texture that mirrors the grim subject matter: the head of a horned devil framed as if presented on a platter. The choice of Japanese paper reflects the significant influence of East Asian printmaking on French artists of the 1890s.

Gauguin’s decision to embrace the Suite of Late Wood-Block Prints rather than traditional painting methods at this stage of his life underscores his ongoing search for primitive and emotionally resonant forms of expression. The work rejects academic refinement, prioritizing instead the visceral impact achieved through deliberately crude carving and intense tonal contrast. Gauguin’s masterful contribution to the history of modern prints in France ensured the legacy of this technique. This compelling piece is currently preserved in the collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, making it available for study and enjoyment, often supported by public domain accessibility initiatives.