L'Enlèvement d'Europe

The present work is an excellent demonstration of Gauguin's innovative working methods. A perennial problem in printmaking is that any text engraved on a block or plate will be reversed when printed (often described as ‘mirror writing’). Gauguin came up with an innovative solution using semi-transparent oriental paper. When laid face down on a sheet of card, reversed text would be seen from behind, effectively reversing it again, leaving it in the correct orientation. Most of the edition was presented this way, but for some unknown reason Gauguin pasted this particular impression face up, with the result that his signature reads backwards. Proof that this was indeed done by Gauguin is provided by the feint impression of Changement de résidence (M.K.& J. 54) on the reverse of the support sheet, presumably an accident caused by being stacked on an impression before it was fully dry.