L’univers est créé (The Universe Is Being Created), from the Noa Noa Suite 1893 - 1894

Editor: This is "L’univers est créé (The Universe Is Being Created)" by Paul Gauguin, a woodcut print on paper made between 1893 and 1894. It’s currently at the Art Institute of Chicago. It has a dreamy, almost nightmarish quality, and the composition seems very intentional but chaotic. What do you see in this piece from a formalist perspective? Curator: The deliberate, yet seemingly chaotic, arrangement of forms is indeed crucial. Notice how Gauguin employs line and shape. The contours are rough, almost primitive, imbuing the work with a sense of raw energy. Consider the flatness of the picture plane, characteristic of Post-Impressionism and further emphasizing the two-dimensionality of the print. Observe the contrasting light and dark areas—the way he manipulates the medium to create depth, despite the lack of traditional perspective. Editor: So, it's less about what the images represent and more about how they're rendered and how they interact on the surface? Curator: Precisely. It's the relationship between the forms themselves, the dialogue of lines, the contrast of tones. The subjective representation of the forms should be deconstructed as a semiotic code rather than pure narrative, encouraging us to deconstruct our reading of art. Does the density of lines on one side versus the relative emptiness of another evoke a certain rhythm? Editor: It does create a pull to the left, a visual weight. The stark blackness also forces my focus onto the highlighted figures, leading me into their realm. Curator: A deliberate act on Gauguin’s part. And is it possible that the artist used these devices as commentary on contemporary art trends or to subvert conventional representations? The intent, perhaps, lies less in what is shown and more in the how. Editor: I hadn't considered it that way. Analyzing the lines and contrasts shows just how intentional and structured what seems chaotic truly is. Thank you! Curator: A fresh gaze indeed benefits the reading of all artwork, challenging presumptions while embracing different formal vocabularies.