Ia orana Maria (Hail Mary) 1895

Paul Gauguin’s “Ia orana Maria” (Hail Mary), a charcoal drawing created in 1895, depicts a Tahitian woman standing with a child on her shoulder. Gauguin, who traveled to Tahiti in 1891, was fascinated by the local culture and incorporated its elements into his art. The woman’s stance and the child’s positioning allude to traditional Tahitian iconography, while the title references Christian imagery. This combination reflects Gauguin’s interest in syncretism, the blending of religious and cultural traditions.