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A Maori Woman in a Forest; Manao Tupapau (She is Haunted by a Spirit)

Paul Gauguin

1894

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Impressionism Realism Late 19th Century

Dominant colour

A Maori Woman in a Forest; Manao Tupapau (She is Haunted by a Spirit) is a 1894 ink by Paul Gauguin, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Paul Gauguin
When & what style?: 1894 · Impressionism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This woodcut shows a woman lying on her side in a dark forest. Her body is wrapped in a blanket, and her head rests on her arm. Around her, twisted tree roots and branches fill the scene, making the ground look rough. In the background, a faint building or structure is barely visible through the trees. The artist used sharp lines to show how the woman’s body fits into the wild, tangled space. The woodcut’s rough texture makes everything feel uneven and alive. Next, look up woodcut to see how artists carve images into wood like this.