The Universe is Created (L'Univers est créé) c. 1894

Paul Gauguin created this print, The Universe is Created, using woodcut and monotype techniques. Gauguin sought to escape the confines of European society, traveling to Tahiti in the late 19th century, a period marked by European colonialism and exoticism. This print reflects his fascination with Polynesian culture, intertwining it with his own spiritual and symbolic language. Gauguin was very interested in representing what he called the 'savage' element within man, suggesting a rejection of Western norms. However, this interest often romanticized and appropriated indigenous cultures. The print depicts a scene filled with figures and symbols drawn from Tahitian mythology, set against a dark, dreamlike background. The raw, textured quality of the woodcut enhances the otherworldly atmosphere, inviting us to contemplate the origins of existence through a non-Western lens. Ultimately, the print complicates our understanding of cultural exchange, identity, and the artist's role in interpreting and representing cultures outside their own.