A Maori Woman in a Forest; Manao Tupapau (She is Haunted by a Spirit) 1894 - 1895

This woodcut print was made by Paul Gauguin around 1894, drawing on his experiences in French Polynesia. The scene depicts a reclining woman, haunted, according to the title, by a Tupapau, a spirit of the dead. Gauguin arrived in Tahiti in 1891, driven by a desire to escape the corruptions of European civilization, which he saw as stifling genuine artistic expression. His goal was to immerse himself in a simpler, more authentic culture, and in doing so, revitalize his art. We can ask to what extent Gauguin’s art challenged the colonial gaze, or simply exoticized Polynesian culture for a European audience. To understand Gauguin’s work, one must consider the context of French colonialism in the Pacific, the artist’s own biases, and the way European artists have historically represented non-Western cultures. Art historians often turn to colonial archives, travel literature, and anthropological studies to shed light on the complex dynamics between the artist, his subjects, and the broader social and political landscape. Ultimately, this print is a product of its time, reflecting both the allure and the perils of cultural exchange.