Spirit of the Dead Watching
- Artist
- Paul Gauguin
- Date
- 1892 ; French Polynesia
- Style
- Post-impressionism
- Genre
- Nude painting (nu)
- Location
- Albright-Knox Art Gallery
'Spirit of the Dead Watching' (Manao tupapau) is a significant piece of Post-impressionism art, created in 1892 by Paul Gauguin. This painting displays a nude Tahitian girl resting on her stomach, portrayed using an expressive oil medium. It's painted on a burlap canvas, an uncommon choice reflecting Gauguin's innovative style. An elderly woman is depicted behind her, creating a mystery around the title, which implies the girl and the ghost observing each other. Through this ambiguity, Gauguin extends an immersive exploration of perceptions, expectations, and the supernatural.
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