Les Graines De Camelia. Oshima, Izu 1957

Paul Jacoulet made this print, Les Graines De Camelia. Oshima, Izu, using woodblocks, a process that’s all about layering and registration, kind of like life itself, right? Look at these women, these figures, they emerge from a soup of color, delicate lines, and flat planes, all conspiring to create this…world. Notice the patterning in their clothing, the way the cloth wraps and folds, but then the face is so smooth. It's the kind of image that invites you to slow down, get lost in the details. The way Jacoulet uses color here is so interesting. There's a harmonious tension between the soft pinks and blues of the sky and the more vibrant hues in the women's garments. The whole thing shimmers with an almost dreamlike quality. It reminds me a little of how Matisse used color – boldly and intuitively, letting it sing out. With this piece, the conversation is open, a dance of observation and imagination.