French
DeutschArearea no varua ino
| Arearea no varua ino | |
|---|---|
| The amusement of the evil spirit, Reclining Tahitian Women | |
 | |
| Artist | Paul Gauguin |
| Year | 1894 |
| Medium | oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 60 cm × 98 cm (24 in × 39 in) |
| Location | Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek, Copenhagen |
Arearea no varua ino is an 1894 oil-on-canvas painting by Paul Gauguin, now in the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen.[1]
The title Gauguin inscribed in the bottom left is Arearea no varua ino, a Tahitian language phrase which is variously translated to English as "the amusement of the evil spirit"[2] or "words of the Devil".[3] The painting is also sometimes given the descriptive title Reclining Tahitian Women.
Description
[edit]In the foreground, two Tahitian women in white shirts and blue long skirts are depicted reclining on a beach. One woman sits looking to the right with a serious expression while the other woman faces away, fully reclined with one hand holding her head, possibly washing her hair. In the left midground a statue of Hina[3] stands in the shade, facing the viewer and the women, and to the right of that is a floating blue mask which faces the statue. Two figures dance in the background.[2]
Context
[edit]Gauguin spent some years in Tahiti, but this painting was created during a two-year period where he lived in Paris.[3]
References
[edit]- ^ "Catalogue entry".
- ^ a b "Audio Guide - Paul Gauguin: The Art of Invention". Saint Louis Art Museum. Archived from the original on 2023-08-03. Retrieved 2025-03-22.
- ^ a b c Garlake, Esme (2023-06-01). "Paul Gauguin and the 'Other': June Pick of the Month". athena art foundation. Retrieved 2025-03-22.