The Pearl of the Boar - Edmund Dulac

A stylised hunting scene by Edmund Dulac, originally created for the 1920 publication, The Kingdom of the Pearl.

The Pearl of the Boar is a plate from the 1920 publication, The Kingdom of the Pearl. Edmund Dulac, a French-born illustrator who settled in London, created these images to accompany a text by Leonard Rosenthal. The work reflects the fascination with Eastern aesthetics that permeated European art during the early twentieth century. Dulac draws upon the traditions of Persian miniature painting, employing a flattened perspective and decorative treatment of natural forms.

The composition depicts a hunt, featuring two riders on horseback accompanied by cheetahs in pursuit of a wild boar. The figures are rendered with precise, calligraphic lines, while the colour palette relies on muted earth tones contrasted against areas of gold leaf and deep green. The trees, with their stylised, cloud-like foliage, demonstrate the artist's interest in non-Western visual languages. Unlike the realistic depth found in contemporary European oil painting, this image prioritises a decorative arrangement of shapes and patterns.

Dulac was a central figure in the British gift-book market. His ability to synthesise diverse stylistic influences, from Japanese woodblock prints to Mughal miniatures, allowed him to create highly distinct imagery. This particular work demonstrates his technical control over watercolour and ink, balancing the action of the hunt with a static, almost dreamlike quality. The gold background provides a sense of luxury, consistent with the themes of the book, which explored the history and cultural significance of pearls. The work remains a clear example of the high level of craftsmanship associated with the luxury book production of the period.