Te Atua (The Gods) Small Plate

Gauguin employed woodcut techniques to achieve a rough, textured quality, with visible lines and marks. The figures are rendered in bold lines and flat, stylized forms, aligning with Gauguin's Synthetist aesthetic, which emphasized emotional intensity through simplified shapes and expressive lines.

Part of the National Gallery of Art, Washington collection, the precise history of ownership prior to its acquisition is not detailed here, though its creation in 1898 places it within Gauguin's prolific later period, marked by experimentation in various mediums.

Created during Gauguin's later years, this work reflects his continued experimentation with wood engraving as an artistic medium. It also situates itself within the broader context of Post-Impressionist and Symbolist movements, where artists sought to move beyond realistic representations.