Paul Jacoulet
(1902-1960)
"La Statuette Thang. Mandchoukuo," 1956
Woodcut in colors with silver, gold, pearl metallics, gofun, urushi, and mica dust on handmade mulberry paper, watermark artist initials
Edition: 47/350
Signed in pencil above the artist's faint red ink mandarin peony stamp in the image near the lower left edge: Paul Jacoulet; the title printed in the lower margin, at right; stamp-numbered in red ink on the verso of the lower right margin corner; the black ink stamp of the carver, Kentaro Maeda, and the printer, Honda Tetsunosuke, in the lower portion of the right margin
Image: 15.5" H x 11.875" W; Sheet: 17.625" H x 14.25" W
Literature: Miles 144

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 "This is the last and rarest of the Manchurian prints. The implied irony of the sumptuously gowned aristocratic lady gazing reverently at a most ordinary little statue was not lost on the artist." And continues to say, "The complexion of the lady is enhanced with powdered pearl and small touches of a very fugitive pink."

Overall good condition. With margins and the colors fresh. The left and lower margin edges are deckled, whereas the other two are slightly unevenly trimmed. Time staining showing in the margins. Some very soft handling creases in the outer margins and corners, visible primarily in raking light. A few unobtrusive, pinpoint-sized foxmarks in the margins. A pea-sized area of pale reverse staining in the lower portion of the left margin. Slight surface skinning on the right 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 glass: 21.25" H x 17.25" 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.