Mahana atua (Day of the God) 1894 - 1895

"Mahana atua (Day of the God)" is a woodcut print by Paul Gauguin, created between 1894 and 1895, currently housed at The Art Institute of Chicago. The artwork depicts a scene of Tahitian life, with figures arranged in a landscape setting, characterized by Gauguin's bold, simplified forms and striking use of color, notably contrasting against the dark background. This print exemplifies Gauguin's fascination with Polynesian culture and his desire to create a new, more primitive style of art, marked by its bold simplification of forms and the use of bright, vibrant colors.