Le Sourire

Created in 1899 during Gauguin's second and final stay in Tahiti, 'Le Sourire' (The Smile) is a woodcut that exemplifies the artist's revolutionary approach to printmaking. By this time, Gauguin had fully embraced woodcut as a serious art form, moving away from traditional European techniques toward a more primitive, direct style influenced by Polynesian art. The small scale of this work — just 4 by 7¼ inches on the block — belies its significance as part of Gauguin's broader exploration of Tahitian themes during his most productive period in the South Pacific. This piece belongs to a series of woodcuts from 1893-1899 where Gauguin experimented with simplified forms and bold compositions, including works like 'Te Po' and 'Eve.' The title 'Le Sourire' also references a satirical newspaper Gauguin published in Tahiti from 1899-1900, suggesting this print may have served as an illustration or masthead. The choice of china paper as the printing surface demonstrates Gauguin's attention to materials; this delicate, thin paper allowed for crisp impressions that captured the carved textures of the woodblock. Working in this medium, far from Paris galleries and the European art establishment, Gauguin continued to develop the Synthetist and Symbolist approaches that would profoundly influence modern artists like Picasso and Matisse.