Te raau rahi (The Big Tree)

A massive, violet-trunked hotu tree dominates the left side of this canvas, its branches stretching out over a verdant Tahitian landscape. Paul Gauguin painted this scene in 1891, during his first months on the island, a time he described as one of being "blinded and dazzled" by the surroundings. The painting captures the island's abundant flora, including slender mango and coconut trees, alongside short banana plants with their distinctive broad leaves. In the foreground, a man cracks a coconut, while a family rests peacefully in the grass, a sleeping dog nestled beside them. The coarse, fibrous jute canvas, visible through the paint layers, contributes a rugged, organic texture, reflecting the natural setting and the artist's engagement with his new environment.