Bouddha (Buddha) after 1895

Paul Gauguin created this print, Bouddha, using woodcut, a medium more closely associated with the crafts than with fine art. The process involves carving an image into a block of wood, inking the surface, and then pressing it onto paper. The result is a graphic image with strong contrasts, a quality Gauguin exploits here. The texture of the wood itself is evident in the final print, giving it a tactile, handmade quality. Woodcut was often used for popular, inexpensive prints, in contrast to the more refined medium of etching favored by academic artists. By embracing woodcut, Gauguin aligned himself with a tradition of folk art and challenged the hierarchy between fine art and craft. This choice reflects his broader interest in non-Western cultures, where similar techniques were often used for religious or decorative purposes. Considering Gauguin’s radical approach to both subject matter and technique, we can appreciate how he blurred the lines between different artistic traditions and social contexts.