Paul Gauguin

Masks

Masks by Paul Gauguin

Artwork Detail

Artists drawn to indigenous arts are often attracted by not only purely formal qualities, but also by the spiritual resonances surrounding ritualistic objects such as masks and carved figures. Many works Gauguin made during and after his first visit to Tahiti of 1891–93 suggest the significance of Pacific art objects as a source of totemic power. He preferred the graphic medium of woodcut as the artist’s hand was clearly visible in the finished product. (Headspace, 2002)

Title
Masks
Artist/creator
Paul Gauguin
Production date
circa 1893-circa 1894
Medium
woodcut
Dimensions
300 x 85 mm
Credit line
Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki, purchased 1961
Accession no
1961/29
Copyright
No known copyright restrictions
Department
International Art
Display status
Not on display

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