Japan and her Influences

• Back in the 17th Century till the mid 19th Century, Japan was closed off from the world, so no one knew much about its culture or history. But then in 1845 when the ports were finally opened and trade with the world began, a whole new world of gorgeous treasures opened up for the west. Kimonos were being exported, and art blocks as well as people! Western folks fell in love with the new exotic new world! Imagine, being a high-class Lady, surrounded by all the same styles throughout her life, the same style in fashion, and the same culture; then she hears about Japan's open gates, I think I would have been the first to enter its boarders!

Oriental Kimono

Typical Victorian Clothing

Hiroshige

• Born in 1797, he had a samurai background but took after his father's job after both his parents had died, this left him with a lot of free time on his hands. At the age of fourteen, he took up the arts of painting and printing. During this time paintings were done through the block painting technique. It involves wooden blocks with a hand carved 3D relief, when the paint would be applied and printed it creates that sort of negative effect. It is because of this effect that most of his works are distinctive for their mass of bright colour and sharp black outlines. 



"Sea of Satta" by Hiroshige

• In his work "Sea of Satta"  we can clearly see a mass of colour in the sky and the distant hills. The rest seem to have a sort of blend. In the background there is Mt. Fuji, which shows his sens of pride for his beautiful home land. Even though there seems to be little depth in the painting, there is some detail in the ships and birds. 

Vincent Van Gogh

Vincent Van Gogh's "The brige in the Rain"

• Van Gogh is well known for his Post-Impressionistic paintings, such as "Starry Night" or his most famous portraits. But before he painted Post-Impressionism, he was deeply influenced by works from the east, Japonisme.
• In 1887, Van Gogh made a copy of the print "The Bridge in the Rain" by Hiroshige. Van Gogh pays more attention to the detail in the distant background and the colours have more life and are well blended . There still is his distinctive short brush strokes which are typically Van Gogh and Post-Impressionistic. 

Hiroshige's "The bridge in the Rain"

• Japan has always been an influence to me as an artist, from their Manga to their clothes. To learn more about their history and culture will always inspire me to do something creative in their style or involving something with an asian origin. Like a while ago I had this wooden Kimi doll, and I painted her with my water colours using a lot of bright colours which contrast her calm facial expression. A more recent work of mine was done two weeks ago, where I had bought these long Asian paint brushes, and used black ink as a medium. The result was the "Weaping Widow". 

  

  Kimi Doll Yumi 

"Weaping Widow"

Sources-

eHow Contributor, 2014. Japanese Influence on European Art [online] Available at: <http://www.ehow.com/about_6692583_japanese-influence-european-art.html> [Accessed 18th April 2014 ].

Redtree Times, 2011. Hiroshige. [online] Available at: <http://redtreetimes.com/2011/03/15/hiroshige/> [Accessed 18th April 2014].

Van Gogh Gallery, 2013. Japonisme [online] Available at: <http://www.vangoghgallery.com/influences/japonisme.html> [Accessed 18th April 2014].