Shop art print and framed art Spirit of the Dead Watching (Manao tupapau) by Paul Gauguin

Genesis of Manao Tupapau, an enigmatic painting by Paul Gauguin

In 1891, Paul Gauguin, in search of a lost paradise and new inspiration, landed in Tahiti. There he discovered a vibrant culture, lush landscapes and omnipresent sensuality. It was against this exotic backdrop, tinged with mystery and ancestral beliefs, that Manao Tupapau was born in 1892. This oil on canvas, measuring 73.02 x 92.39 cm (115.89 × 134.78 cm framed), and now in the Albright-Knox Art Gallery in Buffalo, USA, is also known as The Spirit of the Dead Watches, opening the way to multiple interpretations. The title of the work refers to the Polynesian belief that the spirits of the dead, known as "tupapau", haunt their graves at night and watch over the world of the living. For Gauguin, this theme provided an opportunity to reinterpret certain aspects of Tahitian language and culture and incorporate them into his own pictorial language. In painting this canvas, Gauguin was inspired by a personal experience: one night, returning home, he surprised his young Tahitian companion, Tehura, lying on their bed, eyes wide open, frozen in apparent terror. This scene, charged with emotion and ambiguity, became the starting point for this emblematic work.

Manao Tupapau by Paul Gauguin: One painting, two worlds

Manao Tupapau plunges us into a nocturnal atmosphere that is both sensual and disturbing. In the foreground, a naked Tehura lies on a bed covered in a blue sarong with yellow floral motifs. Her generously shaped body occupies a large part of the canvas, irresistibly drawing the eye. Her expression is indecipherable: is she frightened, as if sensing imminent danger, pensive, or simply deep in thought? Behind her, in the shadows, stands a ghostly figure, the "tupapau", the spirit of the dead. Dressed in black, he seems to be watching the young woman, creating a striking contrast between light and darkness, the world of the living and that of the dead. The composition, simple and effective, puts these two realities in tension, inviting the viewer to enter Tehura's mental universe.

The female figure at the centre of the composition of Manao Tupapau by Paul Gauguin

The young woman depicted in Manao Tupapau is thought to be Tehura, Paul Gauguin's Polynesian companion at the time. Her naked body, offered to the viewer's gaze, provides a striking contrast with the dark, indistinct background of the canvas and embodies the exotic beauty, the primitive sensuality that the artist sought in the Pacific islands.

Beyond the eroticism, Tehura is also an enigmatic figure. Her expression, at once serene and troubled, suggests a complex interiority. Is she aware of the tupapau's presence? How does she feel about this intrusion into her intimacy by the world of the dead? Gauguin leaves these questions unanswered, inviting viewers to project their own interpretations onto this fascinating young woman.

Symbolism and mystery at the heart of Manao Tupapau by Paul Gauguin

Manao Tupapau reflects the beliefs and myths of Tahitian culture, but also Gauguin's personal concerns. The tupapau, the spirit of the dead, embodies the fear of the unknown, of death, but also the persistent presence of the past, while the vibrant, contrasting colours convey the emotional intensity of the scene. Gauguin plays with light and shadow to create a mysterious atmosphere, conducive to introspection. The painting thus becomes an open window onto the human soul, exploring the shadowy areas of consciousness and the boundaries between the real and the imaginary.

The role of colour in Paul Gauguin's Manao Tupapau

The bold and expressive use of colour is a key characteristic of Paul Gauguin's artistic style. In Manao Tupapau, the vivid hues of the woman's body contrast sharply with the deep, dark colours of the background. This opposition reinforces the impression of strangeness and mystery that emanates from the scene depicted. The different shades of green, blue and red used in this painting also testify to the artist's passion for tropical landscapes and the culture of its inhabitants.

Role of Manao Tupapau in Gauguin's career

Manao Tupapau occupies an important place in the corpus of works produced by Paul Gauguin in French Polynesia. Firstly, this painting marks a major stylistic turning point, as illustrated by the innovative use of colour and the introduction of specifically Polynesian themes into his work. Drawing inspiration from Tahitian culture, the artist broke with the conventions of Western art and paved the way for expressionism and primitivism. He explored new themes, such as spirituality, sexuality and man's relationship with nature. What's more, this painting plays a part in the creation of the Gauguinesque legend: that of a man setting off to live at the antipodes of Western society, in search of lost authenticity and an original paradise.

Paul Gauguin's Manao Tupapau: A Contribution to the Post-Impressionist Movement and Modern Art

Although pictorial realism was still predominant at this time, Manao Tupapau testifies to the emergence of a new artistic current focused on the subjective and symbolic representation of the world. In this sense, this work is fully inscribed in the post-impressionist movement and contributes to the evolution of modern art.

His bold use of colour, form and symbolism influenced many twentieth-century artists, from Matisse to Picasso. Manao Tupapau is thus much more than a simple representation of a scene from daily life in Tahiti. It is a visionary work that questions the human condition and opens up new perspectives for modern art. As a result, many visual and stylistic experiments followed this painting, particularly those of the Fauvist and Expressionist painters who were profoundly influenced by Gauguin's work.

Manao Tupapau by Paul Gauguin, an example of artistic intertextuality

Very attached to the notion of "dialogue" between different art forms, whether or not they belong to the same era or continent, Gauguin transcribed this concept in Manao Tupapau, the notable influence of other cultures on his approach and aesthetic choices helping to blur the traditional boundaries between the primitive and the civilised, East and West.

In evoking Polynesian belief, far removed from classical Western religious concerns, Gauguin challenged his own cultural heritage and contrasted it with other, less formatted ways of thinking. He also drew on traditional Tahitian representations to create his own pictorial and symbolic language. Gauguin was not content to follow the aesthetic trends in vogue; he genuinely invested himself in a process of understanding and respect for the cultures around him, and thus had a profound influence on the development of international modern art.

This artwork is a painting from the modern period. It belongs to the post-impressionism style.

« Spirit of the Dead Watching (Manao tupapau) » is kept at Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, United States.

Find the full description of Spirit of the Dead Watching (Manao tupapau) by Paul Gauguin on Wikipedia.