Noa Noa (Fragrant), from the Noa Noa Suite 1893 - 1894

Paul Gauguin created this woodcut, titled "Noa Noa (Fragrant)," as part of a suite of works inspired by his time in Tahiti. The title itself, repeated within a stylized cloud, suggests an intoxicating sensory experience, one deeply rooted in the island's aromas and allure. Notice the central figure bearing fruit, a gesture echoing classical depictions of Pomona, the Roman goddess of fruitfulness. This motif, laden with associations of abundance and fertility, recurs throughout art history, each time subtly shifting in meaning. Gauguin infuses it with a new layer, superimposing it with his experience of Polynesian life. The composition exudes a dreamlike quality, engaging viewers on a subconscious level. There is something primitive, deeply rooted, and cyclical in how these symbols reappear, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.