Paul Jacoulet
(1902-1960)
"Couchier de Soleil a Menado. 'Celebes'," 1938
Woodcut in colors with embossing on handmade mulberry paper
Edition: one of fewer than 250 total impressions
Signed in pencil above the artist's red ink tea jar stamp in the image at the lower left: Paul Jacoulet; the title printed in the lower margin, at right; stamp-numbered 127/250 in red ink on the verso of the lower edge, at left; with the black ink stamps of both the carver, Kentaro Maeda, and the printer, Honda, Uchikawa, Fujii, Japan, in the lower portion of the right margin
Image: 15.5" H x 11.875" W; Sheet: 19" H x 14.25" W
Literature: Miller 53

Other Notes: According to Richard Miles, "...Jacoulet's numbering system was eccentric at best....Existence of an edition does not mean that the edition was printed in full, and in most cases many fewer were pulled. It was Jacoulet's practice to print only what he expected to sell, or had already sold, to subscribers....In addition, he tried not to duplicate numbers, and largely succeeded. Therefore, [in a hypothetical example], although a print stamped 290/350 is known to exist, there are fewer than 100 actual impressions with the edition of 350 stamp, because 200 of the earlier numbers were used up in the edition of 150 and 250. Even the edition of 150, of which number 150/150 is known, may have existed in fewer impression, because Jacoulet started printing some editions of 250 before completing the first printing....It goes without saying that many of the pre-war prints that did not leave Japan prior to 1941 are no longer in existence, and in many cases the delicate vegetable pigments have faded."

For this particular image, Miles states that "Several of the first impressions are marked as edition of 100. In general, the earliest printing is on slightly larger, richer-coloured paper, and only a single Maeda stamp appears on the l.r. The post-war reprints are on a whiter sheet, and the blue shadings of water are very intense. Often the blue shading near the woman's right knee is omitted."

Overall good condition. The colors fresh and the sheet with full margins and deckled edges. Mat staining throughout the verso, primarily in the outer edges and the figure with the hat. The slightest hint of light staining showing in the margins. A 0.75" H x 7.5" W band of old glue residue in the lower margin edge, at center, showing on the reverse. A pinpoint-sized hole in the sheet in the lower left margin edge. The usual rectangular notch out of the lower right margin corner for the alignment of the various colored blocks. Hinged to the back mat in two places from the verso of the upper margin corners.

Framed under Plexiglas: 21" H x 17" W x 1.5" D Condition reports are offered as a courtesy and are typically published in Moran's catalogue or can be made available upon request. The absence of a condition report does not imply that an item is free from defects or restoration, nor does a reference to particular defects imply the absence of others. Buyers are responsible for determining to their own satisfaction the true nature and condition of any lot prior to bidding. Though buyers are not legally required to inspect lots prior to purchase, failure to do so may constitute a waiver of complaint that an item was not delivered in a condition equal to the existent condition at the auction.