'Jeune Fille De Polowat', Paul Jacoulet, 1948, Tokyo, Garbo, Queen Elizabeth Ii, Kyoto, Woodblock

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Description

Signed lower right in pencil, 'Paul Jacoulet' (French-Japanese, 1902-1960) and stamped with peach seal; titled, lower right margin, 'Jeune Fille … Read more Signed lower right in pencil, 'Paul Jacoulet' (French-Japanese, 1902-1960) and stamped with peach seal; titled, lower right margin, 'Jeune Fille de Polowat. Est Carolines' (Young girl of Palowat. East Carolines), with seals of the carver, Kentaro Maeda, and printer, Shunosuke Fujii. Published in 1948. Number and limitation, verso, '136/350'. (N.B. Please note that photos shown of the reverse were taken prior to lay down on archival matboard).

This image is illustrated on page 68 of 'The Prints of Paul Jacoulet' with catalogue number M97, a first edition copy of which accompanies this print.

Displayed in a period, carved wood and parcel-gilt frame. Framed dimensions: 20.5 inches x 16.5 inches.

Born in Paris, Paul Jacoulet moved to Japan with his parents in 1906 and, at the age of eleven, began painting. He joined the staff of the French embassy in Tokyo in 1920 and, in his official capacity, made his first trip to the South Seas. Shortly after, he resigned to devote himself to his art career.

Jacoulet found many of the subjects for his woodblock prints in the South Seas, but he also drew from travels to Korea or Manchuria and from within Japan. Most of the artist's compositions show people and, while his designs of the pre-war period reflect a certain realism, the post-war woodblock prints show scenes that are more imaginative. In 1931, Jacoulet began his studies with Shizuya Fujikake to master the craft of woodblock printmaking. In 1933, he established the Jacoulet Institute of Prints and began publishing his own designs, producing his first woodblock print in 1934. Jacoulet worked with professional carvers and printers, including fine artist and woodblock carver Kazuo Yamagishi. The technical requirements for the level of craftsmanship for a Jacoulet print were so high that he collaborated with only the best engravers and printers.

Jacoulet's prints included all known features like embossing, lacquers, micas or metal pigments. However, he also experimented with and introduced novel techniques including the use of powdered semi-precious stones. For support, Jacoulet insisted upon custom-made and specially watermarked papers from Kyoto instead of the standard washi paper. As one of his assistants later recalled, a single Jacoulet print might require as many as 60 individually carved blocks for completion.

Over the course of his career, Paul Jacoulet exhibited internationally with success and was the recipient of numerous prizes, medals and juried awards. In the post-war period, his graphic work became famous throughout the world. Among his admirers and collectors were General Douglas MacArthur, Greta Garbo, Pope Pius XII and Queen Elizabeth II. See less