Artwork
La vierge et l'enfant (The Virgin and Child)
La vierge et l'enfant (The Virgin and Child) is a print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1895, this work by Paul Gauguin is a black zincograph printed on heavy Japanese paper. The image presents a solitary female figure holding a child within a stark, dimly lit space, accompanied by two faint, shadowy faces that appear at the upper corners. The composition is rendered in loose, gestural lines, giving the impression of a rapid study rather than a polished final piece.
Subject & Meaning
The print portrays a mother and child, a traditional religious motif, yet Gauguin’s treatment strips away narrative detail, focusing instead on the solemnity of the figures. The muted expressions and the ambiguous, watching silhouettes suggest an introspective mood, inviting contemplation of the relationship between the sacred and the unseen, a theme common in Symbolist art.
Technique & Style
Gauguin employed a zincographic process, using a metal plate to produce bold, black lines that contrast sharply with the white of the Japanese paper. The technique emphasizes rough, sketch-like strokes and a limited tonal range, aligning with his experimental approach to printmaking and his interest in simplifying forms to convey emotional weight.
History & Provenance
The print belongs to Gauguin’s late period, when he was exploring Symbolist ideas and alternative print media. It was produced during his stay in France after his first Tahitian voyage and reflects his ongoing investigation of religious iconography through modernist lenses. The work is catalogued among his lesser‑known prints and has been held in several European collections.
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.
Peasant Mother and Child
Ia Orana Maria (We Greet Thee, Mary)
Emilienne d'Alençon
The Shadow (L'Ombre)
Te Faruru (They are Making Love Here)
Fin de rêve
La Vieille: Que Crains-tu? Un large trou Noir! Il est vide peut-etre? (What are you afraid of? A wide black hole! It is empty, perhaps!)
Untitled
Etude de nu (Study of a Nude)
Untitled
La vierge et l'enfant (The Virgin and Child)
Etude