Class Information

A29 THE WORLD OF THE JAPANESE WOODBLOCK PRINT     NEW

This class is face-to-face.

Tutor: Michael Harrington
This class introduces the world of Japanese woodblock prints through the remarkable life and work of Paul Jacoulet (1896-1960), a French artist who lived in Japan and became a distinctive figure in the modern woodblock tradition. We begin with a brief history of Japanese woodblock printing, including the techniques and traditions that shaped the art form. From there, we explore Jacoulet's extraordinary prints and the stories they tell about his life and art. We will also make a trip to the Queensland Art Gallery to view Jacoulet's work in the exhibition Birds of Passage: Ian Fairweather and Paul Jacoulet.
Venue: 232 Adelaide St
Monday 1.15pm - 2.45pm. Classes start 14 July, finish 15 September.
Cost: $50 (prepaid), 10 weeks
Current Enrolments: 13  (maximum 30)

Learning Outcomes:

By the end of the course, participants will have:

* A clearer understanding of the term "Japanese woodblock print," including its use in referring both to traditional ukiyo-e prints and to more modern styles and approaches.

* Familiarity with the life and legacy of Paul Jacoulet, whose art reflects the global and cross-cultural dimensions of modern Japanese printmaking.

* The opportunity to view Jacoulet's work in person and appreciate its significance in context.

Weekly class outline (tentative)

Week 1 Introduction to the Japanese woodblock print.
Week 2 The golden age of ukiyo-e
Week 3 Modern Japanese woodblock prints - 20th century onwards
Week 4 Introduction to the life and art of Paul Jacoulet
Week 5 Travels in the South Seas - In the footsteps of Gauguin
Week 6 Emergence as a woodblock print artist
Week 7 Travels in the Japanese empire - Japan, Korea and Manchuria
Week 8 WWII and beyond - final years in Karuizawa
Week 9 Jacoulet's legacy today in Japan and abroad
Week 10 View Jacoulet's work in the Queensland Art Gallery exhibition Birds of Passage: Ian Fairweather & Paul Jacoulet

About the Tutor:

I am an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Languages and Cultures at the University of Queensland, where I worked in Linguistics and Second Language Acquisition until retiring in 2021. I have studied, taught, and researched in Japan for over 45 years. In retirement, I developed an interest in Japanese woodblock prints, particularly the work of the French artist Paul Jacoulet. I look forward to sharing this passion with others. My website, commonbones.org, showcases this focus along with other interests.