L'Homme Accroupi. Chinois 1947

Paul Jacoulet made this print, L'Homme Accroupi. Chinois, and he used woodblocks, cutting into them and inking them to bring it into being. Just imagine Jacoulet hovering over the blocks, carving with such precision. I wonder what it was like for Jacoulet, a Frenchman painting in Asia. What was he thinking, feeling, when he was making this? The surface is so smooth, and the colors so flat. It’s a world away from the gestural bravado of oil painting. There is such a sense of patience. Look at the serene face of the man, his hand gently placed under his chin. He is wearing a deep blue robe decorated with stylized emblems. There’s a quietness here. The man in the print looks thoughtful, and he’s surrounded by bamboo, emblems of resilience and grace. Painting invites a kind of conversation across cultures and across time, echoing and reflecting. Isn’t that a beautiful idea?