Day of the God (Mahana no Atua)
Paul Gauguin · 1894
Why it's great
Tahitian figures dance, sit and bathe, by a colorful, wavy shoreline, with a god statue at the top. Gauguin painted the lively dreamlike scene with flat, bright colors. The curved lines of water look like abstract shapes. It's a lively and mysterious picture.
Where to see it
📍 Art Institute of ChicagoChicago, United States
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Three places to look for a print of this painting, from budget to museum-grade:
These links open search results on each shop's own website; we don't sell anything or earn a commission, and print quality varies by seller. Ask a grown-up before you buy anything.
Paul Gauguin was born in Paris and spent part of childhood in Peru. He worked as a stockbroker before turning to painting full-time. He lived in Brittany, in Arles with Van Gogh, and then in Tahiti and the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific, seeking a simpler life. His flat, vivid colors influenced Picasso and Matisse.
