Artwork
Title Page for "Le Sourire" (Titre du Sourire)
Title Page for "Le Sourire" (Titre du Sourire) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1899 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Title Page for "Le Sourire" is a 1899 woodcut on Japan paper by Paul Gauguin, exemplifying his Synthetist approach in printmaking.
Subject & Meaning
The piece serves as a title page for "Le Sourire", its design incorporating a stylized title and abstract elements, including a curved line evoking a smile, to convey a sense of subtle, enigmatic symbolism.
Technique & Style
Executed in woodcut, the work showcases Gauguin's experimentation with the medium, emphasizing bold, simplified forms and textures inherent to the technique, characteristic of his Post-Impressionist and Symbolist leanings.
History & Provenance
Created in 1899, this woodcut reflects Gauguin's period of innovative printmaking, distinct from contemporary Impressionist practices, though specific ownership history is not detailed here.
Context
Part of Gauguin's broader integration of printmaking into his artistic vocabulary, this work aligns with his Synthetist goals of expressive, symbolic imagery.
Legacy
While not individually renowned, the piece contributes to Gauguin's influential body of print works, underscoring his impact on early 20th-century graphic arts.
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.
