Merahi metua no Tehamana (Tehamana Has Many Parents or The Ancestors of Tehamana) by Paul Gauguin

-
Merahi metua no Tehamana
Source: Wikimedia Commons
As a human being, Paul Gauguin is somewhat infamous in the art world. The nineteenth century French painter has been connected to many racist and misogynist acts, and his work has been tied to ideas of colonialism by modern scholars. However, his artistic skill is beyond compare, and I really do enjoy his painting, so today I’m going to be talking about one of his masterpieces: Merahi metua no Tehamana.

The title, which roughly translates to Tehamana Has Many Parents or The Ancestors of Tehamana, refers to Gauguin’s Tahitian lover Tehamana (their relationship is quite problematic because she was a young teenager at the time, but we’ll set that aside for now and just talk about the painting). The painting depicts Tehamana in a European style of dress as she stands in front of a painted fresco that seemingly portrays Tehamana’s ancestors.

Gauguin was interested in all varieties of spiritual and religious experience, and this painting betrays his interest in the role of ancestors in the Tahitian spiritual life. Though Gauguin didn’t really understand Tahitian religion or culture, he interpreted it through a European lens as something deeply mystical and romantic. This strange fresco is Gauguin’s attempt to explore this spiritual experience. Tehamana’s face also conveys this spiritual energy. As the Art Institute of Chicago explains, “Tehamana’s glance suggest not only the strong, enigmatic bond between these two figures but also the connections between the present and the past, the corporeal and the spiritual, and the living and the dead.”

There are other layers of symbolism present in this painting. The mangos in the bottom left corner probably symbolize fertility, perhaps a reference to the strength and fecundity of Tehamana’s bloodline. The fan that she holds is a symbol of beauty. While the painting is primarily a portrait of Tehamana, the painting also explores deeper spiritual and esoteric themes. Merahi metua no Tehamana is a fine example of Gauguin’s originality and depth of imagination.

Disclaimer: I’m not an art historian or an expert on this topic. The above is my opinion, based on my interpretation of my foreknowledge of art and history. If I’ve done any additional research, I’ll note it above.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Le Chat Aux Poissons Rouges by Henri Matisse (Interpretation and Analysis)

-
Image
Le Chat Aux Poissons Rouges Source: Pinterest French artist Henri Matisse is rather famous for his paintings of goldfish. In fact, one of his most famous paintings, entitled Goldfish , depicts several of the aforementioned fish swimming in a bowl. Matisse is one of the most famous artists of the twentieth century. His work is closely associated with the Fauvist movement and is generally characterized by great energy and rich, intense colors. Based on my research , Matisse began painting goldfish after he traveled to North Africa. In Morocco, Matisse observed locals watching goldfish swim in their bowls as they sunk into a meditative state. The fish subsequently became a symbol for this sense of tranquility, coming to represent an idyllic version of the world only accessible through joyous day-dreams. These calming fish are prominent in this painting, which is entitled Le Chat Aux Poissons Rouges (which translates to The Cat With Red Fishes ). However, the serene energy of the fish
Read more

Mural La Plena by Rafael Tufiño (Interpretation and Analysis)

-
Image
Mural la Plena Source: Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico Today I want to chat about a monumental piece of art that I recently had the pleasure of seeing at the Museo de Arte de Puerto Rico. As the name suggests, Mural La Plena is a massive mural, fifteen by thirty feet in size, that was created by Puerto Rican artist Rafael Tufiño to commemorate la plena, a wildly popular genre of music that was born in the city of Ponce around 1900. The mural, which might appear abstract or incomprehensible to a viewer unfamiliar with the subject matter, illustrates the lyrics of popular plena songs. For example, the blue-green figure that dominates the upper half of the mural represents the hurricane from the plena “Temporal,” which mourns the destruction caused by a storm. Plena, as a genre, tells stories. According to my research , the lyrics come from current events, re-telling the stories that affected the lives of the people of Ponce. It began as a way for people of low socio-economic sta
Read more

Five Puerto Rican Artists You Should Know

-
Image
The island of Puerto Rico has a long and vibrant artistic tradition. Western, Indigenous, and African cultures have all left their mark on Puerto Rican art, creating a colorful and unique visual legacy. While Puerto Rican artists have demonstrated their excellence throughout the years— from the creators of the captivating Taino petroglyphs to the sophisticated and subtle works of the Modernist painters—Puerto Rican art has received little attention from art historians and the wider art world. Here are five underappreciated Puerto Rican artists that you should know: 1. José Campeche José Campeche is often known as the first Puerto Rican painter in the Western history of fine arts. He was primarily known for his religious paintings and his portraits of elite Puerto Ricans, and today his work is recognized as some of the finest examples of Rococo art produced in the Americas. Campeche’s personal story is also inspiring. The son of a slave who had purchased his own freedom, Campech
Read more