Portrait of a Chamorro Woman - Yellow 1934

Paul Jacoulet created this woodblock print, titled "Portrait of a Chamorro Woman - Yellow," without specifying a date. Jacoulet, a Frenchman who spent much of his life in Japan, created a niche for himself by depicting the indigenous peoples of Micronesia and other Pacific regions through the lens of Japanese Ukiyo-e. The Chamorro people, native to the Mariana Islands, experienced waves of colonial influence, from Spanish to German to Japanese rule, during Jacoulet's lifetime. Note the woman’s ornate, traditional dress. Consider it in relation to the history of colonization and cultural exchange in the Marianas. Does this signal an attempt to preserve Chamorro identity, or does it perpetuate an exoticized version of the culture? Jacoulet’s position as a European artist portraying a Chamorro woman invites a reflection on themes of representation, cultural appropriation, and the power dynamics inherent in the colonial gaze. While celebrating the aesthetic beauty of the sitter, this image prompts us to consider the complexities of cultural representation and the artist's role in shaping perceptions of identity.