Interior of a Hut (Interieur de case) after 1895

Paul Gauguin made this woodcut, Interior of a Hut, using a knife to carve an image into a block of wood. It's the same basic principle used to make stamps. Ink is then applied to the raised surface, and an impression is made on paper. Looking closely, you can see how Gauguin used the wood's natural grain to add texture, and how the stark contrast between black and white shapes gives a sense of depth to the scene. What's also interesting is the sheer labor involved. Each print demanded meticulous carving, a process far removed from the mass-produced images of his time. By embracing this painstaking, almost artisanal process, Gauguin elevates a common, everyday scene to the realm of high art. He asks us to reconsider the value we place on different modes of production, blurring the lines between craft and fine art. The material, and the process of making, become integral to the work's meaning, inviting us to appreciate the time and skill embedded in every impression.