The Universe is Created (L'Univers est créé)

The Universe is Created (L'Univers est créé) by Paul Gauguin, executed in 1894, is a striking woodcut trial proof that pushes the boundaries of the graphic medium. This specific impression is unusually complex, printed using four distinct colors: tan, red-brown, red, and black. As a central figure in the Post-Impressionist and Symbolist movements, Gauguin elevated the woodcut medium from a purely illustrative technique to a sophisticated artistic form capable of expressing profound, complex ideas.

Created during the artist’s pivotal residency in Tahiti, this piece reflects Gauguin’s deep engagement with non-Western cosmologies and his project of creating modern myths. The rough, intentionally raw texture of the wood matrix, which the artist left visible, contrasts sharply with the highly finished surfaces often preferred by academic French artists of the late nineteenth century. Gauguin’s innovative use of multiple colors in this print classification, particularly evident in this surviving trial proof, demonstrates his experimental approach to achieving rich, saturated effects typically uncommon in traditional prints of the 1890s. The period spanning 1876 to 1900 saw a massive shift in how artists viewed technique, and Gauguin’s embrace of Primitivism defined the aesthetic of his later career.

The subject of The Universe is Created explores primal creation narratives, often filtered through the lens of Polynesian mythology that fascinated the artist. The imagery is deliberately dense and cryptic, inviting the subjective interpretation characteristic of Symbolism. This work exemplifies Gauguin’s dedication to exploring spiritual and symbolic themes through robust, simplified forms, contrasting sharply with the Impressionist focus on observed reality. This rare print, showcasing the artist’s mastery of the relief process, is a key example of the French master’s graphic output and is held in the prestigious collection of the National Gallery of Art. Prints of this significance are often made accessible to the public domain through museum digitization efforts, ensuring their continued study and appreciation.