The Drama of the Sea, from the "Volpini Suite: Dessins lithographiques"

The Drama of the Sea, from the "Volpini Suite: Dessins lithographiques" by Paul Gauguin, is a pivotal early print created in 1889. This zincograph, a technique related to lithography utilizing a zinc plate instead of the traditional stone, was pulled on distinctive chrome yellow wove paper, intensifying the visual contrast and symbolic energy of the design. This work belongs to a set of eleven experimental prints exhibited that year at the Café Volpini in Paris, an exhibition that marked a crucial public transition toward Gauguin’s development of Synthetism and his rejection of Impressionist methodology.

Gauguin’s printmaking during this period emphasized simplified, often dark forms, characterized by bold outlines (cloisonnism). Although the title, The Drama of the Sea, suggests a maritime subject, the depiction moves far beyond naturalistic observation of the ocean. Instead, Gauguin employed the elemental power of the seas as a vehicle for emotional and symbolic expression, aligning the work firmly with the Symbolist movement gaining traction in Paris. The raw, direct quality inherent in the zincograph medium perfectly complements Gauguin's desire to convey feeling and atmosphere rather than strict optical reality. These early graphic works demonstrate the artist’s commitment to exploring mass-produced art forms years before his significant woodblock projects in Tahiti.

As a first edition impression from this historically landmark suite, this piece offers crucial insight into Gauguin's stylistic evolution. While many of the artist’s later paintings are widely celebrated, this rare collection of early prints provides essential context regarding his move toward fully realized Symbolism. This impression of The Drama of the Sea is housed in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it serves as a key reference point for studying Post-Impressionist graphic arts.