Artist: Paul Jacoulet
Medium: Original Limited Edition Japanese Woodblock Print
Series Title: South Seas - Yap
Edition: First State, #/150 - Kanji Edition
Date: 1938
Publisher: The Artist - Privately Published
Reference No.: Miles #52
Size: 18 -3/4 x 14 "
Condition: Very fine, with superb colors
Notes:
A near mint, first state edition. The beauties lips were stained a vivid scarlet by the juice of actual betel nuts, with the mint background decorated with flecks of gold leaf and other delicate vegetable pigments.
This unusual print shows two unmarried and presumably immature girls of high caste in their traditional skirts and finest jewelry. The bracelets, earring and necklace are of tortoise, trochus and other ropes of sennit, a strong cord meshed of coconut fibers. The pierced ears of both men and women often carried flowers, cigarettes, or bits of chewing gum wrapping.
The South Seas Series were all created from sketches and paintings completed between 1929 and 1936. As late as 1959, these early works were being carved to produce new prints. Since many were lost in allied bombings during World War II, several of the designs are among the rarest and most desirable of all the artist's oeuvre.