Japanese Woodblock Print Kiyoshi Tokio by Paul Jacoulet

A Japanese Woodblock print by Paul Jacoulet (French, 1896-1960) entitled Kiyoshi Tokio. Created in 1939, this print is rare with only one edition with fewer than 320 impressions executed. The floating seated figure of the young boy dressed in Kimono was one of the few such unconventional compositions in the artist's repertoire. The artist used seven shades of pink and pearl paper to achieve a youthful look of the boy.
This print was marked in plate by Jacoulet's signature and the red boat Seal. On the right lower margin, is the carver Maeda's mark. Bottom right margin is the printed title. Presented in a black and gilt carved wood frame and wonderfully crafted mat that complement the colors of the print. The image size is 11" x 15.5". Curiously, an edition number in Kanji 57 of only 150 is exposed in a mini-window verso, suggesting this is one of the early impressions. The research reports that some early impressions bear various mistaken edition lables as the print was issued as one edition of 350 with less than 320 realized.
Reference: No 56 "The Prints of Paul Jacoulet: A Complete Illustrated Catalog by Richard Miles.

An eccentric artist of his time, Paul Jacoulet was born in France but lived most his life in Japan. He is considered as one of the few western artists who have mastered the art of woodblock printing sufficiently to be recognized in Japan. Largely rooted in traditional Japanese woodblock printing techniques and ukiyo-e style, the artist developed a unique and recognizable style infused with his own aesthetic vision and technical approaches that set himself apart from Japanese artists. Nearly all portraits, Jacoulet depicted a wide range of people he encountered in his extensive travelling in the Far East as well as South Pacific. Often in their traditional outfits and surrounded by endogenous flora and props, his models often convey a more western sense of pose, with some directly confronting the viewers. Jacoulet occupies a special place in the world of ukiyo-e, the artist formed a bridge between the East and West.