Te po (The Night) from the Noa Noa Suite

Te po (The Night) from the Noa Noa Suite by Paul Gauguin (French, 1848-1903) is a seminal wood-block print created between 1893 and 1894. This work is a crucial part of the Noa Noa Suite, a collection of prints Gauguin developed following his first extended period in Tahiti. The suite documents his efforts to translate Polynesian culture and mythology into a modern, raw aesthetic suitable for European audiences.

This particular impression demonstrates Gauguin’s radical experimentation with the print medium, moving far beyond standard reproductive techniques to create a unique, painterly surface. The print was executed using a complex, multi-stage process: the block was printed twice, employing both brown and black inks, enhanced by selective wiping of the surface to achieve varied tonal and textural effects. Furthermore, Gauguin laminated the support himself, adhering cream laid Japanese paper onto cream wove Japanese paper, establishing a distinctive support structure.

The final result is dramatically enriched by extensive hand-coloring. Gauguin meticulously applied watercolor in numerous hues—red, two tones of orange, yellow, two tones of blue, silver-gray, and black—transforming the wood-block matrix into a highly individualized, monoprint-like object. This intensive method emphasizes the artist's Post-Impressionist sensibility while using a medium traditionally associated with popular prints. While certain masterworks by Gauguin are now in the public domain, this technically sophisticated example remains a cornerstone of the Art Institute of Chicago's collection, providing profound insight into the artist’s complex printmaking career in France and the Pacific.