Artwork
Volpini Suite: Women Washing Clothes (verso)
Volpini Suite: Women Washing Clothes (verso) is a print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This print is part of the Volpini Suite, a series of ten woodcuts created by Paul Gauguin in 1893. It is titled Women Washing Clothes (verso).
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts two women bent over a shallow stream, scrubbing clothes. The scene reflects Gauguin's observations of everyday life during his time in Tahiti, which he sought to capture in a book titled Noa Noa.
Technique & Style
Gauguin carved the image into a woodblock himself, resulting in rough, uneven lines that convey a raw, unrefined quality. The print's texture is achieved through the woodcut technique and Gauguin's varied use of inks and papers.
History & Provenance
The print was created as part of a series intended to illustrate Gauguin's book Noa Noa, which was never completed. Gauguin returned to Paris from Tahiti in 1893 and began working on the book and its accompanying prints.
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.
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