Eiaha Ohipa (Not Working / Do Not Work)
Print reproduction on a mechanical puzzle or folding block; original was oil on canvas • Paul Gauguin (French, 1848–1903)
Style & Movement
Post-Impressionism / Synthetism / Primitivism
Medium & Technique
Color lithography or offset print applied to cardboard/plastic cube segments; the original 1896 painting utilizes oil with heavy outlines and flat color zones
Creation Period
Modern mass-market reproduction of an 1896 original work
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 4 x 4 inches (10 x 10 cm) for the puzzle cube; portrait orientation depicted on several face segments
Subject Description
A Tahitian woman stands in profile against a lush, stylized tropical landscape. The original composition includes seated figures nearby. It reflects Gauguin's fascination with 'exotic' cultures and his search for an uncorrupted, primitive paradise, using symbolic color and simplified forms.
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Fair/Poor; as a commercial novelty item, it shows significant wear including surface abrasions, delamination of the print from the substrate, and heavy creasing across the central fold
Estimated Market Value
$5 - $15 USD
Auction Estimate
$0 - $20 USD (Household/Miscellaneous lot)
Provenance History
Likely purchased as museum gift shop merchandise or a puzzle toy (e.g., Rubik's-style magic folding cube). No fine art provenance available for a commercial reproduction.
Art Historical Significance
The original painting is a masterwork of Gauguin's late Tahitian period, currently held in the Pushkin Museum, Moscow. This specific object is a educational or leisure replica designed for tactile interaction, illustrating the commercialization of Post-Impressionist icons.
Notable Features
The image is split across multiple articulated cube segments, allowing the user to fold the object to reveal different parts of the painting or other associated Gauguin works.
Condition Issues
Visible edge wear, white scuffing where the print has lifted, severe horizontal and vertical structural creases from the puzzle's mechanical movement, and general handling grime.
Conservation Recommendations
Keep in a dry environment to prevent further peeling of the adhesive. Not a candidate for professional restoration due to its nature as a mass-produced consumer good.