French artist Paul Gauguin went to Tahiti in 1891 to paint the local women. He was attracted to the exoticism and primitiveness of Tahiti and its culture, which he believed provided a more authentic and pure source of inspiration than the European academic tradition. His depictions of Tahitian women were characterized by bold, vibrant colors and simplified, stylized forms, which emphasized their sensual and mysterious qualities. Gauguin's Tahitian paintings, such as "Two Tahitian Women" and "Spirit of the Dead Watching," are considered iconic works of Post-Impressionist art.