L'Univers est crée (The Creation of the Universe)

L'Univers est crée (The Creation of the Universe)

Paul Gauguin

1894

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This woodcut shows a chaotic scene of swirling shapes and figures. A large, shadowy face looms on the right, while animals and people twist around it. The lines are jagged and rough, with no smooth edges—everything looks carved or scratched into the paper. The artist signed it in the corner, and the title means "The Creation of the Universe." The style is far from realistic, leaning more toward bold, expressive marks. Next, check out how woodcut works—this print was made by carving into wood.

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