The Ox Cart, from the Suite of Late Wood-Block Prints

The Ox Cart, from the Suite of Late Wood-Block Prints, created by Paul Gauguin French (1848-1903) between 1898 and 1899, showcases the artist’s profound engagement with non-Western printmaking techniques during his final years. Classified simply as a print, this work utilizes the raw, expressive power of the wood-block medium. Gauguin printed the image in dense black ink on a thin ivory Japanese paper, which was subsequently laid down onto a heavier, fibrous, off-white Japanese sheet. This deliberate, composite structure highlights the innovative material choices Gauguin employed in his graphic arts.

During the late 1890s, while primarily residing outside of Europe, Gauguin devoted significant energy to printmaking, often employing coarse cuts and varied inking that emphasized texture and silhouette over descriptive realism. The intentionally primitive character of the work contrasts sharply with the polished academic traditions prevalent in his home country, France. In The Ox Cart, the bold, simplified lines capture a moment of rural labor, prioritizing symbolic vitality and material quality. The composition demonstrates his move away from traditional representation toward an aesthetic that would profoundly influence Expressionist movements.

Gauguin’s persistent experimentation with the medium helped redefine modern graphic arts. This print, along with others from the late suite, offers critical insight into the symbolic and often deeply personal imagery he developed near the end of his career. The work is an important part of the collection held by the Art Institute of Chicago. As a high-quality example of late 19th-century prints, the image is frequently studied and, due to its historical timeframe, is now widely accessible for educational use in the public domain.