Daikoku, Dieu La Richesse Personnifie Par Une Courtisane Du Shimabara. Kyoto, Japon 1952

This color woodblock print of a courtesan was made by Paul Jacoulet in Kyoto, Japan. I love how the flat planes of color give it an illustrative quality, a sense of the here and now. It’s like Jacoulet knew that art is a process, a way of seeing that's always unfolding. The heavy outline around the figure emphasizes the shapes and patterns. Look at how the red kimono pops against the yellow background, and how the green pillow grounds the figure. It’s all about contrast and harmony, like a visual dance. I like the wave patterns, they remind me that the material aspects, like color, shape our emotional experience. It’s the way the waves crash, just like my feelings. Jacoulet reminds me a bit of Utamaro, you know? That Japanese printmaker who also captured the beauty of women, but in a different way.