Ia Orana Maria
Paul Gauguin · 1891
Why it's great
A Tahitian woman carries a child on her shoulder, with a glowing halo, as the angel greets them. The title means 'Hail Mary' in the Tahitian language. Gauguin blended Christian images with island life. It's a bright and unusual Nativity.
Where to see it
📍 Metropolitan Museum of ArtNew York City, United States
Open in Maps ↗ About this museum →Hang it on your wall
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.
