Tahitian Shore [verso]

Tahitian Shore [verso] is a distinctive print created by Paul Gauguin in 1900. Classified specifically as a print, this piece reflects the French artist's late-career experimentation with drawing and graphic media, conducted primarily while he resided in the South Pacific. The technique utilized combines the precision of pencil and blue pencil, suggesting careful linear work, which is softened and modulated by the subtle application of brown wash. This complex combination of dry and wet media creates immediate depth and varied texture, allowing Gauguin to define the contours and tonal variations of the Tahitian environment with expressive efficiency.

Created squarely within the period designated as 1876 to 1900, this era marked Gauguin’s definitive abandonment of Impressionism in favor of Symbolism and a deliberate turn toward Primitivism. Though this piece is a relatively minor work compared to his oil paintings, it captures the coastal imagery of his adopted home, a subject central to his quest for authenticity far removed from Parisian academic constraints. The use of simple graphic media underscores the master’s ability to communicate profound atmosphere and form even in a small-scale study.

This exceptional example of Gauguin's graphic output is held in the prestigious collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work offers valuable insight into the drawing habits of the master, which often served as the foundation for his paintings and larger projects. The intentional classification as a print confirms that the artist intended for such studies to be reproducible, allowing for the widespread dissemination of his images. As historically significant works created by this foundational French artist, these smaller prints often enter the public domain, ensuring that the visual legacy of Gauguin remains widely accessible for scholarly study and general appreciation worldwide.