Japanese Ukiyo-e
Theft or homage?
HOMAGE: To western European linear perspectives.
What is ukiyo-e? What doe it draw upon, what subjects are featured, and how does it reflect a new, modern Japanese world?
Japan really focused on giving respect, so that plays into the art. The mentality was that "we will respect the old master's art styles and recreate them. Structure: Common art for Landscapes are horizontal, but in Japan landscapers were verticle. Japanese artist focus on that haze, the blurring of lines as our vision records. They orient the landscape vertically because they are surrounded by mountainous terrain. Additionally, Japanese writing is verticle, which further supports the reason why they enjoy creating verticle artworks. Asymmetrical characteristics are present. Tendency for abstraction and the quality of the line. This comes from the appreciation of calligraphy in Japanese culture. Interior design, for even the most luxurious architectures, was minimalistic. Paintings that served as doors and walls were often times present in these homes. As we go through the decades, some color was introduced into pieces, but only slightly. Japanese line and brush strokes are iconic to their styles. Maintain own japanese style, but incoroprate some ideas of Western art like implied vanishing point. Switched to imagained concept of European nations, which meant fascination with foreign culture because they were isolated for so long.
How isolated was Japan from the rest of the world in the 18th century? What influences still flooded into the island nation>
Japan was fairly isolated from the rest of the world. They were worried about losing what makes them Japanese. They did not want to be colonized or be influenced by Christian missionaries. Japanese being so closed off from the world only fostered hunger to explore. They let the Dutch enter one little island, which meant that the only foreign exposure Japan had was with the Dutch. Japan had a class society
Account for European influence in the 18th century Japanese artworks in terms of stylistic or compositional elements; consider how linear perspective, three-dimensional modeling and nautralistic rendering began to affect japanese artworks.
Refer to first 3 questions
Account for new subjects in ukiyo-e prints, including leisure pursuits, luxury goods, Kabuki theatre and famous actors, sumo wrestlers, courtesans, pleasure houses, wakashu, and shunga.
Showing class of Japanese society. Also shows booming middle class, and enjoying the pleasures of life.
How did ukiyo-e change over the course of the Edo period? What spelled the end of the ukiyo-e prints in Japan, and what afterlife abroad did they enjoy?
Start becoming imagined world of Europe, as Japanese became fascinated with land across the ocean. Incorporated imagined Europe, with Japans own geographical marks. Started influencing French art, and branched into Chionisere.
What type of art form or medium is typically associated with ukiyo-e? Why?
Wood-block prints because of the explosion of middle-class. Art was broadening to include the middle class
