L’univers est créé (The Universe Is Being Created), from the Noa Noa Suite

In this striking wood-block print, Paul Gauguin depicts the very moment of creation, a swirling, primordial scene rendered with a dramatic mix of black and brown inks, accented by vibrant hand-applied watercolors. Two monumental figures, one male and one female, dominate the composition, their forms emerging from a chaotic landscape of organic shapes and vivid hues. The artist's distinctive technique of printing the woodblock twice, combined with selective wiping and the subsequent addition of various watercolors, creates a layered effect, giving the image a raw, almost primitive energy. This work comes from his Noa Noa suite, a series of prints that explored Tahitian myths and spiritual beliefs, reflecting his search for a more authentic, less industrialized world. The print’s bold lines and flattened forms, characteristic of Symbolism, invite contemplation on themes of origin and the sacred, offering a glimpse into a world where humanity and nature are deeply intertwined.