Te faruru (Here We Make Love), from the Noa Noa Suite

Te faruru (Here We Make Love), from the Noa Noa Suite, created by Paul Gauguin French, 1848-1903 in 1894, is a highly experimental and technically complex wood-block print. Gauguin utilized an extraordinarily layered monotype approach to maximize texture and variation within the relief printing process. This impression was printed twice, employing both brown and black inks to deepen tonal contrast and definition. Further refinement involved sophisticated processes, including selective wiping of the block, and the application of brushwork with black ink and touches of red and green watercolors, lending a unique, hand-finished quality to the print. The paper, originally pale-pink wove, has faded to tan, retaining the transferred twill impression that adds a subtle textural complexity to the surface.

This piece belongs to the seminal Noa Noa Suite, a collection of prints produced following Gauguin's return to France from his first journey to Tahiti. Though a prominent figure in French art, Gauguin sought to portray what he perceived as the primal beauty and intimate life of Polynesia, deeply influencing his shift toward Symbolism. The title reflects the artist's focus on private, emotional themes inspired by his life outside of European culture. The expressive lines and simplified, dense forms characteristic of Gauguin’s style transform the image into a highly personal reflection on identity and the exotic.

As an essential example of late 19th-century French prints, the intricate application of mixed media places this work beyond standard relief printing methods. Gauguin’s approach to the medium solidified his reputation as one of the key masters of modern woodcut technique. This print is classified as a print and resides in the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago, contributing to the museum's extensive holdings of modern art often made available through public domain initiatives.