Noa Noa (Gauguin's Tahiti Journal)

Author: Paul Gauguin (France), translated by Ma Zhencheng
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2005-01-01
Features: This book is a collection of essays written by Gauguin on Tahiti, considered his late-life artistic and cultural manifesto. He once said, "It is very useful for understanding my paintings." Noa Noa seems to be the only period of happiness in Gauguin's life that he expressed without painting. Shadows and sunlight, hell and paradise—Gauguin was always closer to the former, perhaps because of this, the book is both cheerful and rough, deeply moving us. However, the long-standing version has been heavily edited by Gauguin's friend, the poet Charles Morris. It wasn't until 1987 that France published a facsimile of Noa Noa's manuscript, based on Gauguin's original handwritten drafts and the original illustrations preserved in the Louvre's drawing room, restoring its original form. Eighty-four years have passed since Gauguin's death. This book is the first translation in China based on the facsimile of Gauguin's original handwritten drafts, and his original illustrations are also the first time they are presented to Chinese readers. From here, one can see the unfinished states of many of Gauguin's famous works. We hope to provide readers with an authentic version. This book is a collection of essays written by Gauguin on Tahiti, considered his late-life artistic and cultural manifesto. He once said, "It is very useful for understanding my paintings." Noa Noa seems to be the only period of happiness in Gauguin's life that he expressed without painting. Shadows and sunlight, hell and paradise—Gauguin was always closer to the former, perhaps because of this, the book is both cheerful and rough, deeply moving us. However, the long-standing version has been heavily edited by Gauguin's friend, the poet Charles Morris. It wasn't until 1987 that France published a facsimile of Noa Noa's manuscript, based on Gauguin's original handwritten drafts and the original illustrations preserved in the Louvre's drawing room, restoring its original form. Eighty-four years have passed since Gauguin's death. This book is the first translation in China based on the facsimile of Gauguin's original handwritten drafts, and his original illustrations are also the first time they are presented to Chinese readers. From here, one can see the unfinished states of many of Gauguin's famous works. We hope to provide readers with an authentic version.