Tahitian Shore [recto] c. 1900

Paul Gauguin created this drawing, Tahitian Shore, sometime in the late 19th century. Immediately, you’re drawn into the hazy, dreamlike quality evoked by the monochromatic strokes. The entire composition relies on the interplay between light and shadow. Gauguin uses a visual language that departs from traditional Western art. The lines are suggestive, not definitive, blurring the distinction between reality and representation. This approach flattens the picture plane, moving away from a Renaissance-based illusion of depth. The materiality of the drawing—its very texture and the way the charcoal sits on the page—becomes part of its message. In its formal ambiguity, this piece invites us to question fixed meanings, reflecting post-structuralist thought where meaning is not inherent but constructed through the viewer’s interaction with the artwork. The Tahitian Shore doesn't just depict a scene but creates a space for contemplation, challenging our perceptions and expectations.