Reclining Tahitian (fragment)

Reclining Tahitian (fragment), created by Paul Gauguin French, 1848-1903 in 1894, is a notable example of the artist's deep experimentation with graphic arts during his most celebrated period. Classified formally as a print, the work utilizes the highly versatile and unconventional method of pastel monotype, a unique subtractive process where the pigment is applied directly to a plate and then transferred under pressure to the paper. This initial transfer is then enhanced by further direct applications of dry pastel, blurring the distinction between printmaking and drawing. This combination of mediums results in a soft, atmospheric quality that contrasts sharply with the bold lines found in many of Gauguin’s contemporary woodcuts.

The piece belongs to the extensive body of art Gauguin created following his first significant immersion in the culture and environment of Tahiti. The composition focuses intimately on a single reclining figure, characteristic of the artist’s depictions of Polynesian women resting or meditating. Although the figure is classified by culture as France, reflecting the artist’s origin, the subject matter directly engages with his search for a non-Western aesthetic away from the perceived decadence of 19th-century Parisian life. Gauguin executed the work on cream wove Japanese paper, a delicate ground that facilitated the subtle transfer of the monotype image. This significant example of Symbolist-era prints, demonstrating Gauguin’s enduring impact on modern art, resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.