Volpini Suite: Design for a Plate: Leda and the Swan (Projet d'Assiette: Léda et le Cygne)

In this zincograph, Leda, a figure from Greek mythology, reclines almost languidly, her body a sinuous curve against a backdrop of swirling lines. The swan, Zeus in disguise, approaches from the right, its neck arcing gracefully to meet her. Gauguin’s design for a plate transforms a classical myth into something distinctly modern, flattening the forms and emphasizing strong outlines. This piece is part of the "Volpini Suite," a series of zincographs created for an exhibition at the Café des Arts (known as the Volpini Exhibition) in Paris. These prints allowed Gauguin to experiment with a simplified, symbolic style, moving away from the more naturalistic approaches of his contemporaries. The stark black and white composition draws attention to the interplay of forms, making the mythological encounter feel both intimate and monumental.