The exotic woodblock prints from Japan had a striking effect on European art in the latter half of the 19th century. The discovery of a Japanese picture book in a crate of porcelain tea service shipped to France in 1836 marked the beginning of the immense popularity of this art form in Europe. Afterwards, inexpensive Japanese prints were collected and discussed by Impressionist painters and literary figures. Even Debussy's music was influenced by Hokusai's print "The Great Wave."
The bright colors, the unusual compositions and perspectives, the depictions of everyday life and the use of the familiar vanishing point perspective that the Japanese had adopted from European paintings appealed to Europeans disillusioned with academic art. Besides using the vanishing point perspective, Hokusai employed Prussian blue pigment from Europe in his famous "The Great Wave" print, originally known as "Under the Wave off Kanagawa." Today, it is one of the most recognizable works of art in the world. The Japonisme craze has influenced European and American art into our time. Hokusai: Inspiration and Influence by Sarah E. Thompson was published by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston in 2023. "Hokusai's The Great Wave" is a chapter in Neil MacGregor's A History of the world in 100 Objects which was published by Penguin Books in 2010 and 2011 by Viking Penguin in the United States.
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AuthorI am a Northwest artist making collages from mulberry papers stamped by hand from original images that I have carved. Archives
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