Tahitians, Flowers, and Leaves, headpiece for Le sourire

Tahitians, Flowers, and Leaves, headpiece for Le sourire is a compelling wood-block print created by Paul Gauguin (French, 1848-1903) between 1899 and 1900. Executed in black ink on thin ivory laid Japanese paper, this work demonstrates Gauguin's distinctive, rough-hewn use of the print medium late in his career. The classification of this piece as a print underscores the artist's long-standing commitment to graphic arts, particularly during his final years in the South Pacific. It was specifically designed as an ornamental headpiece for the artist's satirical and autobiographical journal, Le sourire (The Smile), which Gauguin produced while residing in Tahiti.

The subject matter reflects Gauguin’s enduring fascination with the indigenous people and environment of the islands. The composition blends stylized Tahitian figures, likely women, with lush tropical motifs of flowers and leaves, resulting in a decorative yet stark design typical of his mature graphic style. Gauguin often used the raw, expressive quality inherent in the woodcut technique to capture what he perceived as the primal essence of Polynesian life, deliberately contrasting sharply with the polished academic traditions upheld in France.

While the original edition of Le sourire was short-lived and privately circulated, this particular image is a key component of Gauguin’s graphic oeuvre. The use of Japanese paper suggests the influence of Japonisme, which profoundly impacted prints and printmaking throughout Europe. Today, the work is part of the distinguished prints collection at the Art Institute of Chicago, providing scholars and the public an intimate look at the final creative phase of the Post-Impressionist master. As a historical piece, prints from this era are highly valued, and reproductions of works by this master are often available in the public domain.