Manao tupapau (She Thinks of the Ghost or The Ghost Thinks of Her), from the Noa Noa Suite 1893 - 1894

Paul Gauguin made this woodcut, Manao tupapau, as part of his Noa Noa Suite. The image is printed on paper, but its character is entirely determined by the artist’s work on the block, cutting away at the surface with chisels and gouges. The stark contrast of black ink on white paper, the roughness of the tool marks, the very directness of the process – all these qualities lend the image its power. Gauguin used a reductive method, cutting away what he didn’t want to print. This technique, which requires careful planning, results in a high degree of control over the final image. It's also important to note that the artist was deeply invested in non-Western art forms. But we must remember that Tahiti was already a French colony by the time Gauguin arrived. So, while he was looking for an escape from modern life, he was also participating in a colonial relationship, one that he, as a white European man, would always benefit from. By attending to the materials and the making, we can be more aware of the complex social context in which this image was produced.