Two Maori Women Squatting Down Possibly 1894 - 1895

Paul Gauguin made this drawing, "Two Maori Women Squatting Down," using pen and black ink. The composition centers on two figures, their forms delineated by fluid, yet somewhat anxious lines that capture their seated posture. A large floral motif looms behind, creating an almost totemic backdrop. The artist's mark-making is particularly striking. Gauguin uses a variety of strokes—short, jagged, and swirling—to define shapes and suggest texture. Observe the hatching that models the women’s bodies and the rapid, scribbled lines indicating foliage, all contributing to a sense of movement. Gauguin was heavily influenced by the ideas of Symbolism, seeking to imbue his works with deeper, subjective meanings beyond mere representation. This drawing, with its emphasis on expressive line and simplified forms, suggests a turn away from naturalism towards a more emotionally charged mode of expression. Consider how Gauguin's use of line not only describes but also embodies a certain exoticism and invites ongoing interpretation.