Gauguin - Il diario di Noa Noa e altre avventure (Gauguin - The Diary of Noa Noa and Other Adventures)

The exhibition Gauguin - Il diario di Noa Noa e altre avventure (Gauguin - The Diary of Noa Noa and Other Adventures)  at the Museo Storico della Fanteria (Historical Infantry Museum) draws inspiration from the diary written by the French artist in 1893, after his first trip to Tahiti, and is enriched with wonderful color woodcuts illustrating the texts. The diary tells us abot the life on the Polynesian islands, their myths and ancestral beliefs, symbolism, and spirituality.

Over a hundred works are on display, including drawings, lithographs, and diary pages, allowing visitors to retrace his travels and reflections, revealing the most intimate side of the master of post-Impressionism. The woodcuts, printed by his friend Daniel de Monfreid, explore myths and ancient beliefs, highlighting the French artist's fascinated gaze toward an exotic world that deeply inspired him.

Among the many works on display, we highlight an important monotype drawing, titled "Study of Arms, Hands, and Feet," from the historic portfolio of drawings saved from the burning of his possessions, ordered by the island's religious authorities. A space is also dedicated to the presentation of sculptures created by Gauguin during this period. The exhibition continues with a series of lithographic prints created by the artist for the book Avant et Après, his spiritual testament. Another gem is Gauguin's personal notebook, which, among sketches and studies of people and animals, contains an accounting of the paintings sold, exchanged, or given as gifts. This notebook reveals the complex network of relationships and friendships between Gauguin and other artists and figures of his time, such as Vincent Van Gogh and Émile Bernard.

Photo: official poster of the exhibition