Le Pacifique Mysterieux. Mers Du Sud 1951

Paul Jacoulet made this woodblock print, Le Pacifique Mysterieux, sometime in the mid-20th century. I'm fascinated by the way the mermaid's scales have been rendered; it's like a puzzle, each piece carefully fitted together. You can almost feel the artist's hand in the making. The colors are really interesting too, the blues and browns are earthy and muted, and the mermaid's skin has a pinkish tone that contrasts with the deep blues of the water. Speaking of colors, that little bit of pink coral next to her catches my eye. It's almost like a little secret. Jacoulet reminds me a bit of Gauguin, with his focus on exoticism and the South Seas. But Jacoulet brings his own unique sensibility to the subject matter. Art is a conversation, a constant back-and-forth between artists and ideas. This piece revels in those ongoing exchanges.