Woman with Figs

Woman with Figs by Paul Gauguin, created in 1894, is a significant etching reflecting the artist’s continued engagement with idealized, non-Western subjects even while he was temporarily residing in France. This print, executed during a transitional period in his career, showcases the simplified forms and profound psychological depth characteristic of the Post-Impressionist movement. The artwork is held in the renowned collection of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

The piece centers on a solitary woman, perhaps a recollection or adaptation of the figures he encountered during his earlier Tahitian residence. Gauguin often utilized the motif of women combined with common fruits, such as the figs seen here, as symbols of natural abundance and primal innocence, aligning with his artistic search for an authentic, untainted existence away from European modernization.

The medium of etching allowed Gauguin to achieve a distinct linear quality and intense contrast, setting this graphic work apart from the smoother textures of his oil paintings. The precise, incised lines inherent in the printing process give the woman’s form and drapery a powerful sense of definition and shadow. Though famous primarily for his vivid canvases, Gauguin was a prolific printmaker throughout the 1890s, utilizing various prints and graphic media to disseminate and further explore motifs developed in the South Pacific. This work was produced shortly after his return to Paris following his first trip to Tahiti, demonstrating how his recent experiences profoundly informed his European output. Today, this particular etching remains an important example within Gauguin’s wider graphic portfolio, available for scholarly research and viewing among the institution’s vast selection of historical prints.