La Jeune Chef Saragan Et Son Esclave Forum, Tomil, Yap 1949

Paul Jacoulet made this print, La Jeune Chef Saragan Et Son Esclave Forum, in Tomil, Yap. It's not paint, but it sure feels like it! The flat planes of color suggest a process that is considered, and precise. But the color palette is somehow off kilter, imbuing the image with an otherworldly feel. The surface is smooth, without any visible texture, a technique that allows the subtle color variations to take center stage. Look at the lower half of the seated figure, the bright yellows and greens create a startling contrast with the red necklace. It's as if each section has its own light source, like a collage of light itself. Jacoulet's background in traditional Ukiyo-e prints feels present here. But there's also a modern sensibility in the boldness of the colors and the flattening of space. In some ways, I'm reminded of the work of David Hockney, where color and light come together to create images that are both inviting and slightly unreal. Art, after all, is a conversation, an echo chamber where ideas evolve.