Women, Animals, and Foliage, from the Suite of Late Wood-Block Prints 1898 - 1899

Paul Gauguin created this woodblock print titled, *Women, Animals, and Foliage* sometime in the late 1890s. Gauguin spent a considerable amount of time in Tahiti and sought to represent the island and its inhabitants in his work. Here, we see Gauguin's vision of Tahiti which is mediated through the lens of European art history. With its nude figures, verdant foliage, and idyllic setting, the print recalls the story of Adam and Eve. However, by replacing the traditional Christian symbols with Tahitian imagery, Gauguin challenges the Western gaze and celebrates the beauty and sensuality of Polynesian culture. This reflects a broader trend in European art at the time, in which artists sought to escape the perceived constraints of Western society by embracing non-Western cultures. To fully appreciate this work, we can consider the artist's biography and consult colonial archives. We can then start to understand the dynamics of cultural exchange that shaped Gauguin's art and the complex relationship between the artist and his subject matter.