Te Atua (The Gods) Small Plate [verso]

Te Atua (The Gods) Small Plate [verso] by Paul Gauguin, executed in 1895, is a significant and evocative example of the artist's late career engagement with printmaking. This particular work is a woodcut rendered in black on wove paper. Gauguin intentionally utilized the medium of the woodcut to explore stark visual contrasts and raw, primitive textures, often prioritizing the expressive power of line over descriptive detail. This approach aligns with his pursuit of simplified forms characteristic of the Post-Impressionist movement.

Created during the artist's second sojourn in the Pacific, this piece reflects Gauguin's deep preoccupation with non-Western spiritual and mythological themes. The subject matter, indicated by the title Te Atua, refers directly to the complex cosmological beliefs and deities that he observed and interpreted from Polynesian culture. As a leading figure in the French art world during the pivotal 1876 to 1900 period, Gauguin profoundly influenced subsequent generations by merging Symbolist principles with non-traditional aesthetics. His printmaking often served as a private laboratory for these visual experiments, emphasizing thick lines and abstracted figures to convey emotional and conceptual truths, rather than realistic representation.

As one of the critical prints produced by Gauguin during his mature period, Te Atua (The Gods) Small Plate [verso] showcases his mastery of reductive printing techniques. The inherent nature of the woodcut allows for a direct, forceful manipulation of the material, enhancing the piece’s sense of mystery and power. This important artwork resides within the extensive collection of French prints held by the National Gallery of Art, where it is preserved as a key example of Gauguin’s highly influential, synthesis-driven graphic output.