Mid 20th Century Japanese Woodblock Print Le Bonze Errant by Paul Jacoulet

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A Japanese Woodblock print by Paul Jacoulet (French, 1896-1960) entitled Le Bonze Errant. Coree (The Wandering Buddhist Priest, Korea). Created … Read more A Japanese Woodblock print by Paul Jacoulet (French, 1896-1960) entitled Le Bonze Errant. Coree (The Wandering Buddhist Priest, Korea). Created in 1948, this wonderful print showcases a Korean wandering monk donning an emerald-colored hat and a swirling gauze robe. He holds a black urushi bowl for alms and a long walking cane. His pose is dramatic and open for interpretation. The detail rendering is both realistic and graphic.
This print was marked in plate by Jacoulet's signature and the red Peach seal. On the right lower margin, is the carver Maeda and printer Fujii's seal. Bottom right margin is the printed title. The print had two editions. The first is 250 with fewer than 200 printed. This print is a first edition marked 87/250 verso. Watermark of Jacoulet in the paper visible. The notch cut in the corner of the paper represents a registration cut for aligning the paper during printing. The image size is 11.75" x 15.5".
It should be noted that Jacoulet did not pulled the prints in the order of his edition number due to his complicated and eccentric numbering system.
Reference: No 95 "The Prints of Paul Jacoulet: A Complete Illustrated Catalog by Richard Miles.

An eccentric artist of his time, Paul Jacoulet was born in France but lived most his life in Japan. He is considered as one of the few western artists who have mastered the art of woodblock printing sufficiently to be recognized in Japan. Largely rooted in traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques and ukiyo-e style, the artist developed a unique and recognizable style infused with his own aesthetic vision and technical approaches that set himself apart from Japanese artists. Nearly all portraits, Jacoulet depicted a wide range of people he encountered in his extensive travelling in the Far East as well as South Pacific. Often in their traditional outfits and surrounded by endogenous flora and props, his models often convey a more western sense of pose, with some directly confronting the viewers. Jacoulet occupies a special place in the world of ukiyo-e, the artist formed a bridge between the East and West. See less