L'Homme Accroupi. Chinois 1947

Paul Jacoulet made "L'Homme Accroupi. Chinois" as a woodblock print, and you can see the process so clearly in the finished work. There's something so satisfying about seeing the evidence of how something was made, it's like catching a glimpse behind the curtain. The blues in the robe are just incredible – such a strong, confident colour! Notice how the flat, matte surface of the print gives the whole image a kind of dreamy, otherworldly quality. The patterns on the robe and the meticulous detail in the bamboo behind him, each element feels carefully considered. Look at the hands supporting his face. There’s a softness to the skin tones that almost feels touchable, a real contrast to the angular folds of the robe. It reminds me a little of Matisse, actually, that same bold simplicity and love of pattern. But really, it's its own thing, this print, isn't it? So distinct and a bit mysterious.