Artwork
Mahna no Varua Ino (The Devil Speaks)
Mahna no Varua Ino (The Devil Speaks) is an ink print by the Impressionist artist Paul Gauguin. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:recto: in block, at lower left: PGO MAHNA NO VARUA INO; at upper right, in graphite, in later hand: 5; at lower left, in graphite, later hand: 2
- Markings
- Marked:recto: Ottokar Mascha (Lugt 1904) and Heinrich Stinnes (Lugt 4436); verso: Ottokar Mascha (Lugt 1904) annotated in graphite: 786/e
About this work
Overview
Mahna no Varua Ino (The Devil Speaks) is a color woodcut print on Japanese paper created by Paul Gauguin in 1894. It exemplifies the artist's experimentation with printmaking techniques.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts two ghostly figures in a dark setting, with one figure having a fiery head and outstretched arms. The Tahitian title, 'Mahna no Varua Ino,' translates to 'The Devil Speaks,' suggesting a supernatural or symbolic narrative.
Technique & Style
Gauguin employed bold lines and vibrant colors against a black background to create a dramatic contrast. The use of color woodcut technique allowed for expressive and striking visual effects, characteristic of Gauguin's Synthetist style.
Context
This work reflects Gauguin's interest in non-Western art and symbolism, as well as his broader experimentation with various artistic mediums, including wood engraving and sculpture, during this period.
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.
Te Po (The Long Night)
Manao Tupapau (She is Haunted by a Spirit)
Manao Tupapau (She is Haunted by a Spirit)
Auti te Pape (Women at the River)
The Universe is Created (L'Univers est cree)
In the Forest of Fontainebleau (Dans le foret de Fontainebleau)
Taunus Firs
Te Po (The Long Night)
Te Faruru (They are Making Love Here)