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: P G O MAHNA NO VARUA NO; above image, at left, in graphite: no 55; below image, at left, in graphite: Paul Gauguin fait; below image, at right, in graphite: Pola Gauguin imp.; verso: none
- Markings
- Marked:none
About this work
Overview
Mahna no Varua Ino (The Devil Speaks) is a woodcut print on China paper created by Paul Gauguin in 1894. It exemplifies the artist's experimental approach to printmaking and his Synthetist style.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts a tense indoor scene with two figures amidst swirling, chaotic lines. The title, 'The Devil Speaks', suggests a dramatic or ominous moment, while the figures' poses convey a sense of unease or conflict.
Technique & Style
Gauguin's use of sharp, jagged lines in the woodcut creates a sense of tension, characteristic of his Synthetist approach, which prioritizes symbolic content over naturalistic representation.
Own this work as a print
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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