The Rape of Europa (L'enlevement d'Europe) after 1895

Here we see Gauguin’s woodcut of the "The Rape of Europa," a scene pulsating with symbolic tension. A woman rides on the back of a bull, referencing Zeus in disguise abducting Europa, while another stands passively at the side. The myth of Europa has been retold through millennia, each time mirroring cultural anxieties about desire and power. You may recall similar depictions from ancient Greek pottery to Renaissance paintings; each epoch imbues the tale with its own emotional charge. Gauguin adds yet another layer, situating the narrative in a Tahitian context, merging classical mythology with indigenous motifs. Consider the bull, a symbol of virility, power and dominance across cultures, from ancient Minoan rituals to modern stock exchanges. Here, its dual representation as both divine and bestial evokes a primordial tension. The emotional weight of this scene resonates deep within our collective memory, a potent reminder of the enduring power of myth.