Japanese Woodblock Prints and Impressionism

The term “Japonisme” was coined by the French critic Philippe Burty in the early 1870s and it refers to the popularity and influence of Japanese art and design elements. The trend began after Japan reopened their trade routes of the West after a long period of national isolation under the Tokugawa shogunate which rejuvenated the Japanese identity and birthed an emergence of counter culture and style known as ukiyo-e. Paintings and woodblock prints produced during the Edo period of the 17th-19th century defined and captured the spirit of ukiyo-e and this genre presented a new style known as “pictures of a floating world” which quickly reached and inspired the European gaze. The French Impressionist painters were especially drawn to the Ukiyo-e style components that emphasized nature landscapes, and people in scenes of everyday life, the rich color palette, and the flat compositions. These elements of Japanese prints shifted the need for depth of perception and dedication to realism and opened up the idea of prioritizing the artist's preference for color or subject matter over accurate perspective.

European Impressionist artists like Monet were inspired by the Japanese gardens, the floral patterns of Kimonos, and the water landscapes of woodblock prints. Van Gogh copied prints by Hiroshige and drew inspiration from them in his later compositions. Mary Cassatt and Edgar Degas’ paintings were inspired by the bathing scenes in Utamaro's prints. Toulouse Lautrec, Pierre Bonnard, and Whistler each took inspiration and direction from different components of Japanese woodblock printing such as asymmetrical balance, unusual perspectives, and various lighting effects. French impressionists replicated the Ukiyo-e style of capturing fleeting moments in nature and city life using vivid colors, loose brushwork, and various lighting effects. They painted outdoors, directly observing their subjects, often creating series to depict changes in light and seasons. Impressionist painters set forth what is known as the Modern art moment gave rise to a series of movements. Japanese art had a profound influence on Impressionism, shaping many of the art movements and the following eras' most fundamental ideas that changed not only the technical aspects of painting but also the artist's process and perspectives.

 

 

 

Image Sources:

a. Hokusai's "Under Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa" 1823

b.Claude Monet, "Water Lilies and Japanese Bridges" 1899