L'Attente. Celebe, Menado 1947

Paul Jacoulet made "L'Attente" in Celebe, Menado, using what looks like a printmaking technique with watercolor. The piece is all about surfaces, isn't it? Look at how the pink background flattens everything. Then you notice these intricate patterns on her clothes, almost like wallpaper. Jacoulet's got this amazing control, each line feels deliberate. The way the blue of her skirt contrasts with that bold red vest, it's a feast for the eyes, but also kind of tense. It almost feels like she's waiting, bored but ready for anything. And that foot, just barely touching the ground in its red slipper, is such a good contrast to her arm which is coiled like a snake. It makes you wonder, what is she waiting for? This reminds me a bit of Matisse, who also loved mixing patterns. But Jacoulet has this unique edge, like he's telling a story we only get a glimpse of. It shows how art is always in conversation, borrowing, and riffing off each other.