Sketch of Maori Woman and Child

Sketch of Maori Woman and Child by Paul Gauguin French, 1848-1903, captures a tender, intimate moment observed during the artist's initial and pivotal residence in the South Pacific. Dating between 1891 and 1893, this drawing exemplifies Gauguin’s focus on the lives and figures of the indigenous people of Tahiti and the Marquesas. The work was executed using pen and brown ink, which analysis suggests was originally a fading purple hue, supplemented by subtle touches of graphite.

Rendered on cream wove paper that has since discolored to a tan shade, the drawing’s irregularly shaped perimeter confirms it was removed from a working sketchbook. This intimate presentation emphasizes its nature as an immediate, on-site study used by the artist to capture the specific characteristics and postures of his subjects—here, a Maori woman holding a child. Such preparatory studies provided essential source material for the major oil paintings and prints Gauguin created upon returning to France or during subsequent years in Polynesia.

The sketch directly reflects Gauguin’s Post-Impressionist and Symbolist quest to seek authenticity outside of European modernity. His deliberate shift from France to the colonies defined his career, and these visual notes document his intense observation of Polynesian culture before he incorporated them into more idealized, formalized compositions. The energized application of the ink line provides crucial insight into the master’s working process. This significant drawing is held in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago. While the original drawing is a unique artifact, high-quality reference prints documenting the 1848-1903 master’s technical process are often made available through museum and public domain archives.