Artwork
L'Univers est crée (The Creation of the Universe)
L'Univers est crée (The Creation of the Universe) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1894, L'Univers est crée (The Creation of the Universe) is a woodcut executed by Paul Gauguin on China paper. The print measures roughly a sheet of fine, translucent paper and bears the artist’s signature in the lower corner, confirming its authorship. It exemplifies Gauguin’s engagement with printmaking alongside his painting, sculpture, and ceramic work.
Subject & Meaning
The image presents a tumultuous composition of interlaced figures and forms surrounding a dominant, shadowy visage on the right side. Human and animal silhouettes coil around the face, suggesting a mythic or cosmological narrative that aligns with the title’s reference to the universe’s origin. The lack of realistic detail directs attention to symbolic rather than literal interpretation.
Technique & Style
Gauguin employed traditional woodcut methods, carving the design into a block and pressing the ink onto the paper, resulting in jagged, rough lines and stark contrasts. The marks are bold and expressive, reflecting his departure from Impressionist delicacy toward a more synthetist, symbolic visual language characterized by flattened planes and stark outlines.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to the later phase of Gauguin’s career when he increasingly explored symbolic content. It was produced during his stay in France after his first Tahitian voyage, a period marked by experimentation with various media. Documentation indicates the work entered private collections before being acquired by a museum in the early 20th century.
Context
At the time of its creation, Gauguin was distancing himself from the naturalistic focus of Impressionism, aligning with Symbolist ideas that emphasized inner experience and myth. His woodcuts, including this piece, served as a vehicle for extending his painterly concerns into the realm of print, allowing broader dissemination of his avant‑garde aesthetic.
Artist & collection
Artist
Eugène Henri Paul Gauguin (; French: ; 7 June 1848 – 8 May 1903) was a French painter, sculptor, printmaker, ceramist, and writer, whose work has been primarily associated with the Post-Impressionist and Symbolist movements.
