1894
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
The Universe is Created (L'Univers est cree) is a 1894 ink by Paul Gauguin, a Impressionism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a dark, swirling scene with bold red and orange shapes. A woman lies on the ground, her body twisted and her head covered. Above her, strange, clawed hands reach down from the sky, tangled in rough lines. The background looks like a storm or a mess of tangled ropes. The artist used a simple tool: woodcut. They carved shapes into wood, then rolled ink over it to print. This made the bold, flat colors and sharp edges. Look up woodcut to see how this printing trick works.
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.
See the richer artist pageYour cart is empty
Explore artworks →
![Mahna no Varua Ino (The Demon Speaks) [verso]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/4d5371963e3166cc/thumb.webp)
