Monday, 1 April 2013

Japonisme



 

Emerged in western Europe in the 1850s and 60s. Due to trade, many Japanese imports were sent to Europe and other parts of the world. From the 1860s, woodcut prints by masters of the Ukiyoe school meaning the floating world flooded  European shores
woodblock prints can date to the early 8th century in japan. [Purpose to distribute texts, especially Buddhist scriptures]

The woodblocks became a source of inspiration for many EU impressionist painters. Artists were effected by the lack of perspective and shadow, the flat areas of strong colour and the compositional freedom by not having the main image in the centre.
  The production of  Japanese woodblock prints is a complex process, involving a number of steps, each usually performed by a different person, one skilled in that particular step.
Block carving, printing, repeat printing and final touches.
View : mercury.lcs.mit.edu/~jnc/prints/process.html for detailed diagrams of process.

Suzuki Harunobu, Winter Scene of Black Crow and White Heron, Woodblock print 
 An example of a japanese woodblock print.
The outline would have been carved into the woodblock. Piece by piece, parts of the image would get "coloured in" using a type of stencil with flat colour.
Lack of shadows and overall flatness yet amazing carving work makes this type of art very interesting. Even though there isnt much detail in the colours, the general carved detail somewhat makes up for it.


Japonism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Japonism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Japonism. [Accessed 01 April 2013].

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