Change of Residence, from the Suite of Late Wood-Block Prints 1899

"Change of Residence," a woodblock print, was created by Paul Gauguin as part of his "Suite of Late Wood-Block Prints." Gauguin made several trips to Tahiti in the 1890s, searching for an escape from European civilization. This print reflects his complex relationship with the island and its people. It presents an idealized vision of Tahitian life, yet it also reveals the impact of colonialism on indigenous culture. The figures are rendered with a sense of simplification, evoking a kind of "primitive" aesthetic that Gauguin admired. The scene, however, is laden with romanticism and an exoticism that flattens cultural differences and contributes to the West's construction of the Other. The work invites us to think about the artist’s desire for authenticity but also raises questions about cultural appropriation and the artist's role in representing unfamiliar cultures. "Change of Residence" is not merely a depiction of a place; it is a reflection of the artist's internal journey, a search for meaning in a world far removed from his own.