Oil paintings by Japanese artists. Hokusai - the world of Japan

If we could split a face in half using vertical line, and then look separately at each of the halves, we would most likely see two different appearances. You may have seen photographic tricks that allow you to see this phenomenon firsthand; it happens when the two left halves of a face and the two right halves are put together.

In both cases, the result is a very bizarre appearance. In reality, each half of the face contains two different types information.

The right side is public - it is what you allow others to see. The left side is confidential because it reflects your inner feelings.

The right side of the face is controlled by the left hemisphere of the brain, the more logical, linear half of the brain, which has nothing to do with feelings and experiences. And since it is feelings that leave most of the marks on our face, the right side of it usually turns out to be smoother. The wrinkles that can be seen on both sides of the face are lines of joy (in the West they are also called crow's feet). This is because they arise under the influence of laughter and smiles, and left hemisphere is directly related to a sense of humor, which, in essence, is a manifestation of intelligence. In most other cases, deeper or more abundant wrinkles are visible on the left side of the face.

The left side of the face is controlled by the right hemisphere, which is responsible for emotional perception. It is on it that all forms of your experience are marked, and here the suffering you have experienced and those emotions that have become a habit are reflected. On the left side you can see lines of sadness and even lines of grief, which are much longer. No need to take it personal negative quality. It just means that you have experienced such sadness that it has left its mark on you.

Thus, the right side of the face is what you show to the world, these are those components of your personality that you are ready to reveal to others. The left side reflects deeper emotions and those parts of yourself that you prefer to hide from society. Studies have shown that we mostly look at the right side of our interlocutor's face, which leaves us in the dark about some aspects of his personality.

  • Rice. 1. The right side of the face is public, the left is private.

You can learn a lot about a person simply by comparing both halves of his face. For example, President George W. Bush smiled lightly from the right corner of his mouth during a conversation. At the same time, the left corner was sadly lowered down. Overall, this speaks volumes about the level of stress experienced, if not true feelings about the situation.

No less significant will be the comparison of both eyes. It is not so rare to meet a person whose right eye is open wider than the left. Often this means that the person seems to be listening to the words, but in reality he is looking at you much more closely than he would like to show it. This is also a sign that he is not as open to a relationship as he may seem at first. Similar eyes can be seen in many actors and other people who are constantly under the spotlight of public attention. IN in this case this is understandable, to please the public, professional performer should appear open and friendly. At the same time, he needs to do everything to protect his personal life from prying eyes. In this case, you can often observe how much larger the right eye looks than the left.

If your left eye is open wider than your right (Fig. 2), this means that you have more trust in others than you might think at first. It is also possible that you are secretly reading more information from their faces than you might realize.

  • Rice. 2. If the left eye is open wider than the right, then a person notices more than it might seem from the outside.

It wouldn’t hurt to take a closer look at the difference in eyebrows. If the left one is curved in the shape of an inverted V, and the right one looks like a straight arc, then you are someone who behaves very casually in public. In fact, you may have a certain temperament and impulsiveness. It happens that you begin to act without thinking about the consequences in advance, and in certain situations you are prone to emotional outbursts. At the same time, due to such spontaneity, you rarely miss a good opportunity.

The next time you talk to someone, take a closer look at each side of their face; it is possible that two completely different ones will appear before you. different images! And at some point, if you look for a long time at the left side of your interlocutor’s face, you may get the feeling that you are invading someone else’s life.

At one time I heard one sad story about one student who suffered facial paralysis 15 years ago. With this disease, some of the muscles on the face seem to freeze. Temporary paralysis occurs, which can make the face look very unnatural. It comes suddenly, and sometimes it also ends suddenly. The reasons for this phenomenon have not been fully established, and the same applies to the selection of medications. But people usually manage to restore most muscles in a few months, or even a few years.

At that time, she was experiencing serious mental trauma; her fiancé left her literally before the wedding. She suffered so deeply that she could not even bring herself to leave the house. One morning, while combing her hair in front of the mirror, she new strength I felt a twinge of pain. Suddenly to herself, she exclaimed, looking at the reflection: “I don’t want to suffer anymore!” At that moment, the left side of her face began to twitch, after which a semblance of a smile appeared on it and froze there forever!

From that moment on, the left side of her face constantly looked happy, so that her wish, one might say, came true, her inner self only showed positive emotions and no hint of broken heart. As a result, she had to train her smile on the right side to look as natural as possible. Thus, she began to delight the world with a very pleasant expression. From that time on, everyone she met treated her with respect. great sympathy, because to these people she must have seemed an absolutely happy person.

Most people's faces are asymmetrical. It is so inherent in nature that the left and right sides (separately) can be so different from each other that it seems that they belong absolutely different people. Typically, one part of the face is "prettier." From this side a person looks more attractive in photographs. If you know your strong point, then you can avoid the self-definition “I’m not photogenic.”

By the way, good advice for photographers who “photograph everyone well, but their loved ones and loved ones “badly.”

This is because it is easier to determine the “pretty side of a person’s face” at first glance, but with close people everything is much more serious. After all, we look at them, as a rule, “with different eyes.”

We offer everyone - photographers, models, as well as lovers of self-portraits and photographing friends - always and everywhere a simple and easy way find out which side you should turn to the photographer in order to look good in the photographs.

All you need to find your ideal side is a piece of white paper. Hold the paper vertically, first along one side of your face, then the other. With your " the best side“You should see the so-called upturning, for example, in the corners of the lips or eyes.

If the method does not help and you are still in doubt, simply turn your left side to the camera. Numerous studies show that more emotions are conveyed through facial expressions on the left side. They appear much more intensely, which means they will be conveyed more vividly in the photograph.

And don’t forget to tilt your head forward a little so that the optics don’t distort your facial features.

Hokusai, an 18th-century Japanese artist, created a dizzying number artwork. Hokusai worked into old age, invariably asserting that “everything he did before the age of 70 was not worthwhile and not worth attention.”

Perhaps the most famous Japanese artist in the world, he always stood out from his fellow contemporaries for his interest in Everyday life. Instead of depicting glamorous geishas and heroic samurai, Hokusai painted workers, fishermen, and urban genre scenes that were not yet a subject of interest to Japanese art. He also took a European approach to composition.

Here short list key terms that will help you navigate a little in Hokusai’s work.

1 Ukiyo-e are prints and paintings popular in Japan from the 1600s to the 1800s. A movement in Japanese fine art that has developed since the Edo period. This term comes from the word "ukyo", which means "changeable world". Uikiye is a hint at the hedonistic joys of the burgeoning merchant class. In this direction, Hokusai is the most famous artist.


Hokusai used at least thirty pseudonyms throughout his life. Although the use of pseudonyms was common practice among Japanese artists At that time, in terms of the number of pseudonyms, he significantly exceeded other major authors. Hokusai's pseudonyms are often used to periodize the stages of his work.

2 The Edo period is the time between 1603 and 1868 in Japanese history, then economic growth was noted and new interest to art and culture.


3 Shunrō is the first of Hokusai's aliases.

4 Shunga literally means "picture of spring" and "spring" is Japanese slang for sex. So these are engravings erotic in nature. They were created by the most respected artists, including Hokusai.


5 Surimono. The latest “surimono”, as these custom prints were called, were a huge success. Unlike ukiyo-e prints, which were intended for mass audiences, surimono were rarely sold to the general public.


6 Mount Fuji is a symmetrical mountain that happens to be the tallest in Japan. Over the years, it has inspired many artists and poets, including Hokusai, who published the ukiyo-e series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji. This series includes the most famous engravings Hokusai.

7 Japonism is the lasting influence that Hokusai had on subsequent generations of Western artists. Japonism is a style inspired bright colors ukiyo-e prints, lack of perspective and compositional experiments.


Japanese classical painting has a long and interesting story. The fine arts of Japan are presented in different styles and genres, each of which is unique in its own way. Ancient painted figurines and geometric motifs found on bronze dotaku bells and pottery shards date back to 300 AD.

Buddhist orientation of art

Art was quite well developed in Japan wall painting, in the 6th century, images on the theme of Buddhist philosophy were especially popular. At that time, large temples were being built in the country, and their walls were everywhere decorated with frescoes painted based on scenes from Buddhist myths and legends. Ancient examples of wall paintings are still preserved in the Horyuji Temple near the Japanese city of Nara. Horyuji murals depict scenes from the life of Buddha and other gods. The artistic style of these murals is very close to the pictorial concept popular in China during the Song Dynasty.

The painting style of the Tang Dynasty gained particular popularity in the middle of the Nara period. The frescoes discovered in the Takamatsuzuka tomb date back to around the 7th century AD from this period. Artistic technique, formed under the influence of the Tang dynasty, subsequently formed the basis of the painting genre of kara-e. This genre maintained its popularity until the appearance of the first works in the Yamato-e style. Most of the frescoes and painting masterpieces belong to the brush unknown authors, today many of the works from that period are kept in the Sesoin treasury.

The growing influence of new Buddhist schools such as Tendai influenced the broad religious focus of Japanese fine art in the 8th and 9th centuries. In the 10th century, which saw a special progress in Japanese Buddhism, the genre of raigozu, “welcome paintings” appeared, which depicted the arrival of Buddha in the Western Paradise. Early examples of raigozu, dating back to 1053, can be seen at the Bedo-in Temple, which survives in the city of Uji, Kyoto Prefecture.

Changing styles

In the middle of the Heian period it was replaced by Chinese kara-e style The Yamato-e genre comes, which for a long time becomes one of the most popular and sought-after genres of Japanese painting. The new pictorial style was mainly used in painting folding screens and sliding doors. Over time, yamato-e also moved to horizontal emakimono scrolls. Artists who worked in the emaki genre tried to convey in their works all the emotionality of the chosen plot. The Genji-monogatari scroll consisted of several episodes connected together, artists of that time used quick strokes and bright, expressive colors.


E-maki is one of the oldest and most outstanding examples otoko-e, image genre male portraits. Women's portraits highlighted in separate genre onna-uh. Between these genres, in fact, just like between men and women, quite significant differences are visible. The onna-e style is colorfully represented in the design of the Tale of Genji, where the main themes of the drawings are romantic subjects and scenes from court life. Men's style otoko-e is predominantly artistic image historical battles and others important events in the life of the empire.


The classical Japanese art school became fertile soil for the development and promotion of ideas contemporary art Japan, in which the influence of pop culture and anime is quite clearly visible. One of the most famous Japanese artists of our time can be called Takashi Murakami, whose work is dedicated to depicting scenes from Japanese life. post-war period and the concept of maximum fusion fine art and mainstream.

From famous Japanese artists classical school we can name the following.

Tense Xubun

Syubun worked at the beginning of the 15th century, devoting a lot of time to studying the works Chinese masters era of the Song Dynasty, this man stood at the origins of Japanese visual genre. Shubun is considered the founder of the sumi-e style, monochrome ink painting. He made a lot of efforts to popularize the new genre, turning it into one of the leading areas of Japanese painting. Syubun's students were many who later became famous artists, including Sesshu and the founder of the famous art school Kano Masanobu. Many landscapes were attributed to Xubun, but his most famous work is traditionally considered “Reading in a Bamboo Grove.”

Ogata Korin (1658-1716)

Ogata Korin is one of the greatest artists in the history of Japanese painting, the founder and one of the brightest representatives artistic style rimpa. Korine boldly moved away from traditional stereotypes in his works, forming his own style, the main characteristics of which were small forms and bright impressionism of the plot. Korin is known for his special skill in depicting nature and working with abstract color compositions. "Plum blossom red and white" is one of the most famous works Ogata Korina, his paintings “Chrysanthemums”, “Waves of Matsushima” and a number of others are also known.

Hasegawa Tohaku (1539-1610)

Tohaku is the founder of the Japanese Hasegawa school of art. For early period Tohaku's creativity is characterized by the influence of the famous school of Japanese painting Kano, but over time the artist formed his own unique style. Tohaku's work was largely influenced by the works recognized master Sesshu, Hosegawa even considered himself the fifth successor of this great master. Hasegawa Tohaku’s painting “Pines” has gained worldwide fame; his works “Maple”, “Pines and flowering plants" and others.

Kano Eitoku (1543-1590)

The Kano school style dominated the visual arts of Japan for about four centuries, and Kano Eitoku is perhaps one of the most famous and prominent representatives this art school. Eitoku was favored by the authorities, the patronage of aristocrats and wealthy patrons could not but contribute to the strengthening of his school and the popularity of his works, no doubt very much talented artist. The eight-panel Cypress sliding screen, painted by Eitoku Kano, is a true masterpiece and shining example the scope and power of the Monoyama style. Other works by the master, such as “Birds and Trees of the Four Seasons”, “Chinese Lions”, “Hermits and a Fairy” and many others, look no less interesting.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)

Hokusai – greatest master genre of ukiyo-e (Japanese woodcut). Hokusai's creativity received world recognition, his fame in other countries is not comparable to that of most Asian artists, his work " A big wave in Kanagawa" became something like business card Japanese fine art on the world art scene. On your own creative path Hokusai used more than thirty pseudonyms; after sixty, the artist devoted himself entirely to art, and it was this time that is considered the most fruitful period his creativity. Hokusai's works influenced creativity Western masters impressionism and the post-impressionist period, including the works of Renoir, Monet and van Gogh.


Every country has its heroes contemporary art, whose names are well-known, whose exhibitions attract crowds of fans and curious people, and whose works are sold to private collections.

In this article we will introduce you to the most popular contemporary artists Japan.

Keiko Tanabe

Born in Kyoto, Keiko won many victories as a child. art competitions, But higher education I didn’t get it in the field of art at all. Worked in the department international relations worked at a Japanese local government trade organization in Tokyo, at a large law firm in San Francisco, and at a private consulting firm in San Diego, and traveled extensively. Starting in 2003, she left her job and, having studied the basics of watercolor painting in San Diego, devoted herself exclusively to art.



Ikenaga Yasunari

Japanese artist Ikenaga Yasunari paints portraits modern women in ancient Japanese tradition painting using a Menso brush, mineral pigments, carbon black, ink and linen as a base. Its characters are women of our time, but thanks to Nihonga's style, you get the feeling that they came to us from time immemorial.




Abe Toshiyuki

Abe Toshiyuki is a realist artist who has mastered watercolor technique. Abe can be called an artist-philosopher: he fundamentally does not paint famous landmarks, preferring subjective compositions that reflect internal states the person who is watching them.




Hiroko Sakai

The career of artist Hiroko Sakai began in the early 90s in the city of Fukuoka. After graduating from Seinan Gakuin University and the French Nihon School of Interior Design in design and visualization, she founded Atelier Yume-Tsumugi Ltd. and successfully managed this studio for 5 years. Many of her works decorate hospital lobbies and offices. large corporations and some municipal buildings in Japan. After moving to the United States, Hiroko began painting in oils.




Riusuke Fukahori

Riusuki Fukahori's three-dimensional works resemble holograms. They are done acrylic paint, applied in several layers, and a transparent resin liquid - all this, without excluding traditional methods such as drawing shadows, softening edges, controlling transparency, allows Riusuki to create sculpture painting and gives the work depth and realism.




Natsuki Otani

Natsuki Otani is a talented Japanese illustrator living and working in England.


Makoto Muramatsu

Makoto Muramatsu chose a win-win theme as the basis for his creativity - he draws cats. His pictures are popular all over the world, especially in the form of puzzles.


Tetsuya Mishima

Most of the paintings are modern Japanese artist Mishima is made in oil. She has been painting professionally since the 90s and has several personal exhibitions And a large number of collective exhibitions, both Japanese and foreign.