What is Japonism?

However it was more than a mere reflection as some artists, like Van Gogh went on to embrace some of the stylistic features of Japanese art its calligraphy and colours. It was however a short-lived experiment for the painter and it never really pervaded or became a permanent fixture in his art.

Later however artists like Gustav Klimt incorporated Japonism as a painterly vocabulary in his art while Georges Bigot, even moved to Japan to study and imbibe the culture there. The fascination for Japanese culture can also be seen reflected in theatre in productions like Madame Butterfly.

It showed up in textiles jewellery and graphic design. Much later filmmaker Francois Truffaut made humorous comments on the fascination with Japan in Paris in his film Bed and Board where its protagonist Antoine Jean-Pierre Leacute;aud has an affair with a 8216;Japanese beauty8217;.

Demystify art, e-mail georgina.maddoxexpressindia.com