Vent Du Nord. Coree 1953

Paul Jacoulet made this print, 'Vent Du Nord. Coree', imagining a gusty day in Korea, where leaves are caught in a swirl of wind. I wonder what Jacoulet was thinking, layering block after block of color to create this scene. There’s such patience in the process, and you sense this calm amidst the bluster of the north wind. The palette is muted, with a band of sunset yellows and reds against snowy peaks and storm-heavy skies. The woman’s lilac scarf, patterned with bold graphic swirls, contrasts with the spare backdrop and the smattering of falling leaves. I can imagine Jacoulet in his studio, experimenting with different ways to render the textures of wind. Every artist plays with the tension between control and chance, knowing when to let the materials take over and when to rein them back in. There's a conversation happening between artists over time, where each painter builds on what came before. We all learn from each other, riffing on old ideas and pushing them in new directions.