Oviri 1894

Paul Gauguin’s woodcut, Oviri, now at the Art Institute of Chicago, presents a figure inspired by Tahitian beliefs, embodying a primal goddess. Her haunting smile and prominent eyes draw us into a world of ancient ritual. This figure connects to the archetype of the Great Mother, found across cultures, from the goddesses of ancient Greece to the representations in pre-Columbian America. Note the bestial features – the slight snout and wide-set eyes remind us that this is no mere mortal woman, but an earth deity. Consider the way her presence dominates the scene, evoking feelings of awe and perhaps fear, reflecting humanity’s primal response to the forces of nature. This image echoes through time, resurfacing in various guises, adapting to changing cultural landscapes, yet carrying the same core essence of life, death, and the eternal cycle of nature.