In the painting Her Name Was Vairaumati, motifs of an old Tahitian tale intertwine with the artist’s actual observations. This artwork is inspired by a Maori myth about the love of the god Oro and the beautiful Vairaumati, which started the dynasty of Arioi. In the foreground we can see a contemporary Tahitian woman with a cigarette in hand. She is sitting in a tropical landscape in the splendor of her nudity in a pose reminiscent of Ancient Egyptian reliefs. A young Tahitian man, enchanted by her beauty, is behind her. Both characters are associated with the legend and act as its historical parallel. The ancient myth itself was captured by Gauguin in the landscape that resembles a decorative tapestry. In the background, the artist places a pagan idol on which the myth of Oro and Vairaumati is carved. The entwinement of canonical schemes, observations, and legends is a specific feature of Gauguin’s artistic language.