<b>DAN LA LOGE OFFICIELLE</b> / Paul Jacoulet1942$6,800</em>

Details

This design is part of the famed Bat series, where Paul Jacoulet employed a seemingly extravagant number of blocks—in excess of three hundred—to produce works for this series. In this design, Jacoulet portrays two female Chinese officials in their elaborately fitted court regalia. The design is an expertly orchestrated spectacle of color and pattern, showcasing Jacoulet's mastery while also flaunting the astonishing capabilities of his printers. Of particular note is the life-like representation of the embroidery in the womens’ garments. The silver mica found throughout the patterns in the womens’ gowns and in the background serves to heighten the drama of the design to unknown heights in this medium. The design provides countless places for the eye to meander and adore.

Connoisseur's Note

Prints from the Bat series, such as this design, remain among the most elaborately printed works in the genre of Japanese woodblock prints. In many cases, the technical mastery showcased within the series has yet to be eclipsed. At the time of their production, the set of five designs cost $500, making them the most expensive prints of their time.

This impression is in an exceedingly fine state of preservation. The colors are sharp and vivid, appearing as fresh as the day this was printed was executed. This impression is stamped 106/150 on the reverse. Due to their expense, the series was never completed, and the designs from this group remain some of the rarest and most sought-after works in Jacoulet's body of work.