"Un Juenne Fille de Fiji - Paul Jacoulet

Page size: 18 x 14 in.
Frame size: 20 x 16.5 in.
Signed in pencil, bottom right.
Date: 1935
 
This elegant woodblock on paper is a quintessential work by the French-born artist Paul Jacoulet. Executed with the meticulous precision of the Japanese shin-hanga tradition, the portrait features a young woman with a serene yet soulful expression, characterized by her heavy-lidded, blue eyes and delicate, classically beautiful features. She wears gold hoop earrings and a decorative comb tucked into her wavy, black hair.  Her sky blue shirt is accented by intricate geometric patterns along the neckline and shoulders. The composition is framed by slender, flowering stems with vibrant red blossoms and lush green leaves, which contrast beautifully against the soft, muted pink gradient of the background. Jacoulet’s mastery of line and color is evident in the smooth, flat planes of pigment and the subtle shading on the subject's face, blending European portraiture sensibilities with Asian technical expertise.
 
The piece is ready to hang in a stately frame that resembles the texture of bamboo and has a gold leaf finish.