Japanese

Art Nouveau and Japonisme

Around the 19^th century the strong colours of the Japanese wood cuts, especially those of Katsushika Hokusai “The great wave”, had an impact on the formation of Art Nouveau. In the 1880’s and 1890’s was a great wave of influential on many artists through Europe. The artists were influenced by its organic forms, references to the natural world and clear designs that contrasted strongly with the reigning taste. Japanese art and design didn’t inspired artists only like Emile Galle and James Abbott McNeill Whistler, but also inspired business men like Siegfried Bing and Arthur Lasenby Liberty. 

Emile Galle

Vase

 

Reference:

Art Nouveau and Japonisme of Naturalistic Spoon. 2013. Art Nouveau and Japonisme of Naturalistic Spoon. [ONLINE] Available at:

http://naturalisticspoon.com/Art_Nouveau_Japonisme.html. [Accessed 18 May 2013].

Japanese

The history of Manga

Manga was invented by the famous woodblock print artist Katsushika Hokusai. ‘Hokusai Manga’ is a collection of sketches of various subjects that includes landscapes, everyday life, and supernatural and among others. Hokusai manga is block printed in three colours that are grey, black and pale flesh. Hokusai published 15 volumes, the first published was in 1814. Hokusai manga turned out to be very popular among people and it became the best seller in the Edo period. The Hokusai manga began to spread all over Japan and then continued to spread in Europe in the mid-nineteenth century. The impressionists such as Manet, Monet, Degas, among others were influenced by this original work of art.   

Nowadays, one can still see Japanese artists drawing mangas such as Kishimoto Masashi, Mashima Hiro, Hatori Bisco among others. Since the development of technology mangas are different from the Edo period. This is mainly because in the Edo period, artists used woodblock printing while nowadays a technological approach is used such as tablets.

 Reference:

Hokusai Manga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. 2013. Hokusai Manga - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. [ONLINE] Available at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokusai_Manga. [Accessed 15 May 2013].

 

Japanese

Japanese fashion

Japanese most traditional clothing is kimono. Until the mid-19th century everyone was wearing this type of clothing “kimono”, the definition of the word kimono is clothing. The kimono was slowly began to change during the Meiji Era, because another types of dresses where being imported during this era. There are different types of kimonos for different occasions and seasons. Today kimono is not that popular like traditional time but kimonos are still being wearied in weddings and graduation ceremonies. A reason that the people aren’t wearing kimonos often because they are expansive because of the fabric is silk.

Reference:

Japanese Culture - Costume - Kimono. 2013. Japanese Culture - Costume - Kimono. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.japan-zone.com/culture/kimono.shtml. [Accessed 18 May 2013].