Paul Jacoulet (1896–1960)

Master of East–West Synthesis in 20th-Century Printmaking

Paul Jacoulet left an extraordinary legacy of more than 160 woodblock prints alongside over 3,000 watercolours and drawings. His work represents a unique fusion of Eastern and Western artistic traditions, celebrated most recently in the 2011 exhibition at the Bibliothèque Nationale de France.

Born in Paris in 1896, Jacoulet moved to Tokyo as a child after his father was appointed to teach French to Japanese officials and aristocrats. Immersed in Japanese culture from an early age, he became fluent in both the language and customs, while also studying a wide range of traditional arts. Around 1931, he trained in the woodblock printing tradition under Shizuya Fujikake, refining the skills that would define his career.

Jacoulet’s imagery drew upon his surroundings in Japan, Korea, and the Pacific Islands, while also reflecting his knowledge of European art. He worked predominantly in portraiture and scenes of daily life, creating prints that remain invaluable records of dress, identity, and social customs. Though rooted in the traditional ukiyo-e genre, Jacoulet introduced new subject matter and daring, non-traditional colour palettes, producing vivid and modern re-interpretations of a historic art form.

A perfectionist in both design and production, Jacoulet was deeply involved in every stage of the printing process. In 1931, he founded the Jacoulet Institute of Prints to self-publish his works, becoming one of the few artists to openly credit his carvers and printers in the margins of each print – a gesture of respect for the collaborative nature of Japanese printmaking.

Perhaps Jacoulet’s greatest achievement lies in his acceptance and success within Japan itself, where his works were not regarded as Western imitations of an Eastern art, but as genuine contributions to the living tradition of Japanese printmaking. In this, his oeuvre embodies the rare and harmonious dialogue between East and West in the 20th century.