Buddha, from the Suite of Late Wood-Block Prints 1898 - 1899

Paul Gauguin created this wood-block print of Buddha as part of his late suite of prints. Here, Buddha is seated in a meditative pose, surrounded by an ornate halo. This iconography, resonating with serenity, speaks to the artist's deep engagement with non-Western spiritual traditions. Consider the 'halo' or 'mandorla'—an almond-shaped aureole of light that appears surrounding holy figures. This symbol, notably present around Christ in medieval Christian art, finds echoes in Gauguin's halo around Buddha. This shape stretches back through art history, symbolizing divinity and spiritual enlightenment. Note how the gesture of the crossed legs, known as the lotus position, appears in depictions of deities across cultures. Such imagery transcends geographical boundaries, weaving through the collective subconscious. These shared visual motifs and symbolic language reveal a powerful force, engaging viewers on a deep, emotional level. Symbols resurface, evolve, and take on new meanings in different historical contexts.