Completely harmonious surface, no bubbles or impurities with a matte finish to prevents distracting reflections.
Added to your wishlist
Adding to your wishlist in progress
Framed artwork added to your wishlist
Share this work
Share with your printing options
Link to be shared
Add to my wishlist
Additional products
Canvas Print
starting at $ 58
Fine Art Print
starting at $ 21
Fine Art Print Standard frame sizes
starting at $ 19
Mounting on aluminium
starting at $ 47
More works by Paul Gauguin
Vision After the Sermon
11.5 " x 10 "
starting at $ 58
When Will You Marry?
10.5 " x 12.5 "
starting at $ 64
Where Do We Come From? What Ar...
18.5 " x 9.5 "
starting at $ 81
Two Tahitian Women
10.5 " x 12.5 "
starting at $ 62
Still Life with Three Puppies
10.5 " x 13 "
starting at $ 65
Street in Tahiti (Papeete road...
10.5 " x 10.5 "
starting at $ 56
Tahitian Landscape
11.5 " x 9.5 "
starting at $ 56
Description
Paul Gauguin's 1892 Tahiti painting "Spirit of the Dead Watching" depicts his 13-year-old native "wife", Teha'amana, in a state of fear. According to Gauguin, she was lying motionless, naked, her face against the bed, her eyes exaggeratedly wide with fear when he returned late one evening. The painter attributed this fear to his own appearance, fearing that Teha'amana would confuse him with the demons and legendary spectres of his culture. See more
Some art historians see in this painting a reflection on colonialism and misogyny. Others believe that the painting's narrative was created to make the indecent subject matter more palatable to a European audience.
The painting appears in the background of another Gauguin work, his self-portrait with a hat, which testifies to its importance to the artist.
Gauguin's painting has given rise to various interpretations and discussions, ranging from the psychology of the model to the representation of colonial prejudices of the time.