Tahitian Carrying Bananas, from the Suite of Late Wood-Block Prints 1898 - 1899

This is Paul Gauguin’s woodblock print, *Tahitian Carrying Bananas*, part of a suite of late prints that reflects his engagement with the culture of Tahiti. Gauguin, a prominent Post-Impressionist, spent considerable time in French Polynesia, seeking an escape from European civilization. Here, we see a figure traversing a landscape with bananas slung across their shoulders, a scene that seems idyllic on the surface. Yet, it is crucial to consider the colonial context in which Gauguin created this work. His vision of Tahiti was filtered through the lens of a European artist seeking an exotic, unspoiled paradise, a vision that often romanticized and misrepresented Tahitian life. How does Gauguin engage with or subvert traditional representations of the "exotic"? Does the artwork perpetuate stereotypes, or does it offer alternative narratives? What is the relationship between Gauguin’s personal quest for authenticity and the cultural realities of Tahiti? These are essential questions as we reflect on this print and its place in art history.