Le Mirror De Laque Rouge. Tokyo 1938

Paul Jacoulet made this print, titled "Le Mirror De Laque Rouge. Tokyo," using woodblock printing, a technique honed over centuries in Japan. What's remarkable is the meeting of East and West that the artist engineered. Jacoulet was French, yet worked entirely in the Japanese idiom. The print itself is a testament to this. Notice the flat, graphic quality, and the careful registration of colors. This required immense skill, with a separate block carved for each tone, building up the image layer by layer. This approach to printmaking demanded patience and precision, yet it also allowed for a degree of repetition, aligning with a modern, commercial aesthetic. By engaging with traditional techniques while addressing a contemporary market, Jacoulet blurred the lines between craft and industrial production. It's a fascinating blend of cultures, economies, and ultimately, creative visions.