Paul Jacoulet (1902–1960) was a French, Japan-based woodblock print artist known for a style that mixed the traditional ukiyo-e style and techniques developed by the artist himself. His creative period was 1939-1960. Jacoulet is considered one of the few western artists to have mastered the art of woodblock printing sufficiently to be recognized in Japan. His works are almost all of people, either portraits or full body images capturing some background details. Jacoulet’s woodcuts evoke the themes and methods of the traditional Japanese woodblock print genre known as ukiyo-e. Dating back to the 17th century, ukiyo-e prints typically featured theater performers, beautiful courtesans, landscapes and scenes from history and everyday life. Jacoulet is often associated with the Shin Hanga ("New Prints") movement that sought to revitalize this tradition by introducing Western realism and new subject matter. Jacoulet further invigorated the ukiyo-e tradition through his experimentation with elaborate new techniques and innovative materials. For example, he used precious metals and natural pigments in devising new shadings as well as colored mica, powdered semi-precious stones and small embossing blocks for added texture. Many prints are very rare because all Jacoulet’s pre-World War II work that had not already been taken out of the country by collectors was destroyed by fire.

478 x 363 mm. 18 7/8 x 14 1/4". Signed in pencil, peony seal, with PJ elaborate stamp to reverse. Excellent. Unframed, but in protective matts.