This portrait holds a significant place in Paul Gauguin's artistic journey during his early days on Tahiti. It represents one of his initial attempts at capturing the essence of Tahitian faces, a subject he had been eager to explore. In his written work, "Noa Noa," Gauguin shares his motivation for creating this portrait, expressing a strong desire to familiarize himself with the unique features of Tahitian individuals. See more
His subject for this particular portrait was a young woman of pure Tahitian heritage, a member of his local community.
As Gauguin worked on his painting, he seized an unobtrusive moment when the young woman was engrossed in examining religious artworks from Italian primitive artists. Seizing this opportunity, he discreetly began sketching her likeness. However, his actions did not escape her notice. Suddenly, she noticed the portrait taking shape and, with a slight displeasure, exclaimed, "A ita!" meaning "no." Her response was accompanied by a hasty departure from the scene.
This brief encounter captured by Gauguin not only reveals his fascination with the Tahitian culture and aesthetics but also reflects the challenges and nuances of cross-cultural interaction and artistic observation. It serves as a testament to his dedication in studying and portraying the people and life of Tahiti during his time there.
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