Two Tahitian Women and a Marquesan Earplug 1891 - 1893

Paul Gauguin made this drawing of Tahitian women and a Marquesan earplug with pen and ink on paper. The work is defined by the directness of the materials and Gauguin’s draftsmanship. The artist made extensive use of line in the medium, imbuing the artwork with energy and texture. In this piece, the materiality is evident, and the physical immediacy of the line work on paper emphasizes the human labor involved in its creation. Gauguin was fascinated with non-Western cultures, and this piece reflects his interest in the visual culture of Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands. The work’s inherent qualities of line, form, and tonal value are used to depict the cultural significance of the Marquesan earplug, and the beauty of the Tahitian women. Paying attention to the art's materiality, process, and cultural context allows us to appreciate it beyond traditional categories of fine art and craft, revealing the significance of labor, politics, and consumption in its creation.