[Uncharted Koreatown] Paul Jacoulet—An Artist Who Transcended Borders

Paul Jacoulet, The Bride, Seoul, Korea, Color woodcut, 1948, Accession Number: Minsok 40810, National Folk Museum of Korea.

Art has the power to connect cultures, and few artists embodied this more than Paul Jacoulet (1896–1960). A French artist raised in Japan, Jacoulet merged the delicate craftsmanship of Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e) with Western painting traditions. His art, inspired by his extensive travels across Korea, Japan, Micronesia, and China, reflects a deep fascination with people, their attire, and their cultural heritage [Link].

Among the many places he visited, Jacoulet had a particularly special connection to Korea. After his mother remarried and moved to Seoul, he frequently traveled to Korea throughout the 1930s. During this time, he created numerous Korea-themed woodblock prints, capturing everyday life and traditional clothing (hanbok) with remarkable detail. His artistic bond with Korea was so strong that he held an exhibition in Seoul in 1934, worked closely with a Korean assistant, and later adopted his assistant’s daughter. After his passing, many of his works were donated to the National Museum of Korea, further cementing his legacy in Korean art history [Link].

Paul Jacoulet, The Bride, Seoul, Korea, Color woodcut, 1948, Accession Number: Minsok 40810, National Folk Museum of Korea.

A Unique Vision in Printmaking

While Jacoulet’s work was heavily influenced by Japanese printmaking, his subjects and approach set him apart. Unlike traditional ukiyo-e, which often depicted courtesans or idealized beauty, Jacoulet found elegance in the faces of everyday people. His meticulous attention to hanbok, textiles, and expressions made his prints invaluable not only to art historians but also to scholars studying historical Korean fashion. His works offer a rare glimpse into Korean life, showcasing details that were rarely depicted in Western art at the time.

Paul Jacoulet’s Art in San Francisco

You don’t have to travel to Korea or Japan to experience Jacoulet’s artistry. San Francisco’s de Young Museum houses several of his prints, including portraits of Korean subjects [Link]. While these works are not currently on view, they remain part of the museum’s permanent collection, a testament to his global artistic influence.

Rediscovering Jacoulet’s Legacy

Paul Jacoulet’s art is a testament to cultural exchange—a French artist, trained in Japan, who found inspiration in Korea and beyond. His work challenges the rigid boundaries of national art traditions, instead celebrating a world where artistic influences flow freely across borders. As San Francisco continues to embrace global perspectives in art, perhaps it’s time for a Jacoulet exhibition in the city, bringing his Korean-inspired works into the spotlight once more. Until then, his legacy remains—a bridge between East and West, past and present, art and identity.