Japonism

From the 1860’s uklyo-e Japenese wood block prints, became a source of inspiration for many European impressionists painters in france and elsewhere.
Artists were especially affected by the lack of perspective and shadow, the flat areas of strong colour, the compositional freedom in placing the subject off-center, with mostly a low diagonal axis to the background. Unlike other varieties of orientalism, Japonism mostly involved Western artists using elements of Eastern styles in work showing their own culture; if only because of the difficulty of travel, there were relatively few artists attempting Eastern scenes in a Western style.

Much of the Japanese art, which found it's way across the seas to Europe and America was of the ukiyo-e. At first this consisted mainly of prints produced by the artists of the time, but as Western appreciation for the art form increased, the work of the Edo Period masters became increasingly sought after by collectors. To western observers the work of the Edo Period epitomized the Japanese tradition, unlike modern prints, which were already showing the influence of Western art.
The man who can be seen as the first true champion of Japonism was the French impressionist painter and etcher Félix Bracquemond . Around 1856 Bracquemond discovered a set of Hokusai's manga sketches in Paris and was soon extolling their virtues to his circle of friends and acquaintances. Through his efforts artists such as Manet, Pierre Bonnard, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Degas, Monet, van Gogh and Klimt were all influenced by Japanese art.

Ukiyo-e with its lack of perspective, clean lines and flat areas of colour influenced many Western artists. Impressionism, Art Nouveau and Modernism all drew inspiration from traditional Japanese art. The work of artists such as Hokusai and Utamaro were to have a profound and lasting affect upon Western