Artwork
Te Arii Vahine (Lady of Royal Blood)
Te Arii Vahine (Lady of Royal Blood) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1898, *Te Arii Vahine (Lady of Royal Blood)* is a woodcut print executed on Japanese paper and mounted by adhering the paper’s upper and lower edges to a backing. The work belongs to the later phase of the artist’s career, when he was actively exploring printmaking alongside his painting practice.
Subject & Meaning
The composition depicts a reclining female figure, her posture relaxed yet assertive. She supports her head with one hand while the other cradles a flowering branch, directing her gaze toward the blossoms. Behind her, expansive clouds and stylised trees occupy the sky, rendered in bold, simplified contours that suggest a timeless, symbolic landscape.
Technique & Style
The artist’s handling of flat areas of colour and stark outlines reflects his interest in Synthetist principles and the graphic aesthetics of Japanese prints.
The image was produced by carving the design into a wooden block, inking the relief, and pressing it onto Japanese paper. The resulting lines retain a slightly uneven, tactile quality characteristic of woodcut, emphasizing texture and vitality. The artist’s handling of flat areas of colour and stark outlines reflects his interest in Synthetist principles and the graphic aesthetics of Japanese prints.
History & Provenance
The print emerged during a period when the creator was intensively experimenting with various print media, integrating them into his broader Symbolist and Post‑Impressionist concerns. While specific ownership records for this particular piece are scarce, it is documented as part of his 1898 output, a year marked by heightened production of woodcuts and engravings.
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.
