Japanese artists of the 20th century. Traditional Japanese painting and engraving

Has very rich history; its tradition is vast, with Japan's unique position in the world greatly influencing the dominant styles and techniques of Japanese artists. Known fact That Japan was quite isolated for many centuries is due not only to geography, but also to the dominant Japanese cultural tendency toward isolation that has marked the country's history. During the centuries of existence of what we might call " Japanese civilization", culture and art developed separately from those in the rest of the world. And this is even noticeable in the practice of Japanese painting. For example, Nihonga paintings are among the main works of Japanese painting practice. It is based on over a thousand years of tradition, and the paintings are usually created with brushes on either Vashi (Japanese paper) or Egina (silk).

However, Japanese art and painting were influenced by foreign artistic practices. First, it was Chinese art in the 16th century and Chinese art and the Chinese art tradition, which was particularly influential in several respects. As of the 17th century japanese painting was also influenced Western traditions. In particular, during the pre-war period, which lasted from 1868 to 1945, Japanese painting was influenced by impressionism and European romanticism. At the same time, new European artistic movements were also significantly influenced by Japanese artistic techniques. In art history, this influence is called "Japaneseism", and it is especially significant for the Impressionists, Cubists and artists associated with modernism.

Long story Japanese painting can be seen as a synthesis of several traditions that create parts of a recognized Japanese aesthetic. First of all, Buddhist art and painting methods, as well as religious painting, left a significant mark on the aesthetics of Japanese paintings; water-ink painting of landscapes in the tradition of Chinese literary painting - another important element, recognized in many famous Japanese paintings; painting of animals and plants, especially birds and flowers, is what is usually associated with Japanese compositions, as are landscapes and scenes from Everyday life. Finally, big influence Japanese painting had ancient ideas about beauty from philosophy and culture Ancient Japan. Wabi, which means transient and rugged beauty, sabi (the beauty of natural patina and aging), and yugen (deep grace and subtlety) continue to influence ideals in the practice of Japanese painting.

Finally, if we concentrate on selecting the ten most famous Japanese masterpieces, we must mention ukiyo-e, which is one of the most popular genres of art in Japan, even though it belongs to printmaking. It dominated Japanese art from the 17th to 19th centuries, with artists belonging to this genre creating woodcuts and paintings of such subjects as beautiful girls, Kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers, as well as scenes from history and folk tales, travel scenes and landscapes, flora and fauna and even erotica.

It is always difficult to compile a list of the best paintings from artistic traditions. Many amazing works will be excluded; however, this list features ten of the most recognizable Japanese paintings in the world. This article will present only paintings created from the 19th century to the present day.

Japanese painting has an extremely rich history. Over the centuries, Japanese artists have developed a large number of unique techniques and styles that are Japan's most valuable contribution to the world of art. One of these techniques is sumi-e. Sumi-e literally means " ink drawing", combining calligraphy and ink painting to create a rare beauty of compositions drawn with brushes. This beauty is paradoxical - ancient yet modern, simple yet complex, bold yet subdued, undoubtedly reflecting the spiritual basis of art in Zen Buddhism. Buddhist priests introduced solid ink blocks and bamboo brushes to Japan from China in the sixth century, and over the past 14 centuries Japan has developed a rich heritage of ink painting.

Scroll down and see 10 Japanese Painting Masterpieces

1. Katsushika Hokusai “The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife”

One of the most recognizable Japanese paintings is “The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife.” It was painted in 1814 by the famous artist Hokusai. If you follow strict definitions, this amazing work Hokusai cannot be considered a painting, as it is a woodcut of the ukiyo-e genre from the book Young Pines (Kinoe no Komatsu), which is a three-volume shunga book. The composition depicts a young ama diver entwined sexually with a pair of octopuses. This image was very influential in the 19th and 20th centuries. The work influenced more late artists such as Félicien Rops, Auguste Rodin, Louis Aucock, Fernand Knopf and Pablo Picasso.

2. Tessai Tomioka “Abe no Nakamaro writes a nostalgic poem while watching the moon”

Tessai Tomioka is the pseudonym of the famous Japanese artist and calligrapher. He is considered the last major artist in the bunjing tradition and one of the first major artists of the Nihonga style. Bunjinga was a school of Japanese painting that flourished in the late Edo era among artists who considered themselves literati or intellectuals. Each of these artists, including Tessaya, developed their own style and technique, but they were all great admirers of Chinese art and culture.

3. Fujishima Takeji “Sunrise over the Eastern Sea”

Fujishima Takeji was a Japanese artist known for his work in developing Romanticism and Impressionism in the yoga (Western style) art movement in late XIX- beginning of the 20th century. In 1905, he traveled to France, where he was influenced by the French movements of the time, particularly Impressionism, as can be seen in his painting Sunrise over the Eastern Sea, which was painted in 1932.

4. Kitagawa Utamaro “Ten types of female faces, a collection of ruling beauties”

Kitagawa Utamaro was a prominent Japanese artist who was born in 1753 and died in 1806. He is certainly best known for a series called "Ten Types female faces. Collection of ruling beauties, themes Great love classical poetry" (sometimes called "Women in Love", containing separate engravings "Naked Love" and "Thoughtful Love"). He is one of the most important artists belonging to the ukiyo-e woodcut genre.

5. Kawanabe Kyosai “Tiger”

Kawanabe Kyosai was one of the most famous Japanese artists of the Edo period. His art was influenced by the work of Tohaku, a 16th century Kano school painter who was the only artist of his time, who painted screens entirely in ink on a delicate background of powdered gold. Although Kyosai is known as a cartoonist, he wrote some of the most famous paintings V Japanese history art of the 19th century century. "Tiger" is one of those paintings that Kyosai used watercolor and ink to create.

6. Hiroshi Yoshida “Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi”

Hiroshi Yoshida is known as one of the largest figures of the Shin-hanga style (Shin-hanga is art movement in Japan at the beginning of the 20th century, during the Taisho and Showa periods, which revived traditional art ukiyo-e, which took root in the Edo and Meiji periods (XVII - XIX centuries)). He trained in the tradition of Western oil painting, which was adopted from Japan during the Meiji period.

7. Takashi Murakami “727”

Takashi Murakami is probably the most popular Japanese artist of our time. His works sell for astronomical prices. major auctions, and creativity is already inspiring new generations of artists not only in Japan, but also abroad. Murakami's art includes whole line environments and is usually described as a superplane. His work is known for his use of color, incorporating motifs from Japanese traditional and popular culture. The content of his paintings is often described as "cute", "psychedelic" or "satirical".

8. Yayoi Kusama “Pumpkin”

Yaoi Kusama is also one of the most famous Japanese artists. She creates in various techniques, including painting, collage, scat sculpture, performance, environmental art and installation, most of which demonstrate her thematic interest in psychedelic colour, repetition and pattern. One of the most famous series this great artist is the Pumpkin series. Covered in a polka dot pattern, a regular pumpkin in bright yellow is presented against a net background. Collectively, all such elements form a visual language that is unmistakably true to the artist's style, and has been developed and refined over decades of painstaking production and reproduction.

9. Tenmyoya Hisashi “Japanese Spirit No. 14”

Tenmyoya Hisashi is a contemporary Japanese artist who is known for his neo-nihonga paintings. He took part in the revival old tradition Japanese painting, which is the complete opposite of modern Japanese painting. In 2000 he also created his a new style butouha, who demonstrates a strong attitude towards authority artistic system through his paintings. "Japanese Spirit No. 14" was created as part of artistic scheme"BASARA", interpreted in Japanese culture as the rebellious behavior of the lower aristocracy during the Warring States period, to deny the power to achieve ideal image life, dressing in lush and luxurious clothes and acting according to free will, not corresponding to them social class.

10. Katsushika Hokusai “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa”

Finally, " A big wave in Kanagawa" is probably the most recognizable Japanese painting ever painted. This is actually the most famous work art created in Japan. It depicts huge waves threatening boats off the coast of Kanagawa Prefecture. Although sometimes mistaken for a tsunami, the wave, as the painting's title suggests, is most likely simply abnormally high. The painting is made in the ukiyo-e tradition.

Japanese painting is the oldest species art. It includes various shapes, genres and varied content.

Japanese painting is the oldest form of art. It includes various forms, genres and varied content. Elegant art reveals to the world paintings that are screens, wall paintings, silk or paper scrolls, fans, easel paintings and engravings.

Japanese painting is distinguished by a large number of different genres and styles. Leading place In Japanese painting, as in literature, nature is central. She is presented as the guardian of the divine principle. Japanese painting originates in Chinese art, therefore its genres are very similar to the genres of the Celestial Empire. Nowadays, many Japanese artists prefer to study in China.

Painting in Japan has several stages in its development history. Each of them has its own characteristics and special features.

The initial stage of development is considered to be the time period from the middle of the seventh century to the end of the eighth century, called Nara. The Horyuji Temple was painted during this period and is excellent evidence of the influence of Indian and Chinese traditions on Japanese culture.

The next period in the development of Japanese painting is called Heian. It is famous for the active prosperity of temple painting and examples secular art Images. During this period, illustrations were created for novels and stories designed to entertain noble gentlemen.

Period Kamakura(occupies the time period from the end of the 12th century to the first half of the 14th century), which occupied the time period from the end of the twelfth century to the first half of the fourteenth century, is characterized by a change in styles, the search for new ways of depicting life. The mood of Japanese painting is changing dramatically. Previously paintings conveyed an optimistic, light and joyful atmosphere. During this period a big step was taken towards realistic image, as well as giving the picture an almost military character. Typical subjects of painting are battle scenes from myths and history, religious scenes from Buddhist tradition. Portraits of important government figures are widely used.

During Muromachi(time period from the first half of the 14th century to the second half XVI century), a trend that glorified Japanese painting throughout the world came to the fore. The philosophy of Zen Buddhism had a significant influence on painting, resulting in the popularity of landscape art. Monochrome technology has gained particular elegance. During this period, Japanese painting was influenced by China. The most famous Japanese artist At that time, Toyo Oda, who specialized in painting landscapes, created his first paintings when he traveled around the Middle Kingdom. He developed the direction already in his homeland.

The above-described trend actively developed and was supplemented during the next two periods in the development of Japanese painting - Monoyama And Edo. The monochrome technique was a more sophisticated option. The details were carefully worked out and drawn out. Artists were not afraid to experiment and began to use techniques previously used in painting on scrolls and screens in wall painting. Landscapes and crowd scenes began to be supplemented with psychological stories demonstrating the hero at a moment of strong emotional stress. Besides traditional painting In Japan, wood engraving became widespread. It was divided into two types: theatrical engraving and everyday descriptive engraving. The most famous master theatrical print is Choshusai Sharaku. Everyday engraving actively developed in the works of Suzuki Harunobu and Kitagawa Utamaro.

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 she received her higher education not in the field of art. 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 of 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 well-known landmarks, preferring subjective compositions that reflect the internal states of the person who observes 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 sculptural paintings and gives the works 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 by contemporary Japanese artist Mishima are done in oils. She has been painting professionally since the 90s, and has had several solo exhibitions and a large number of collective exhibitions, both Japanese and foreign.

Japanese painting is an absolutely unique movement in world art. It has existed since ancient times, but as a tradition it has not lost its popularity and ability to surprise.

Attention to traditions

The East is not only about landscapes, mountains and the rising sun. These are also the people who created his story. It is these people who have supported the tradition of Japanese painting for many centuries, developing and enhancing their art. Those who made a significant contribution to history are Japanese artists. Thanks to them, modern ones have retained all the canons of traditional Japanese painting.

Manner of execution of paintings

Unlike Europe, Japanese artists preferred to paint closer to graphics than to painting. In such paintings you will not find the rough, careless oil strokes that are so characteristic of the Impressionists. What is the graphic nature of such art as Japanese trees, rocks, animals and birds - everything in these paintings is drawn as clearly as possible, with solid and confident ink lines. All objects in the composition must have an outline. Filling inside the outline is usually done with watercolors. The color is washed out, other shades are added, and somewhere the color of the paper is left. Decorativeness is precisely what distinguishes Japanese paintings from the art of the whole world.

Contrasts in painting

Contrast is another characteristic technique used by Japanese artists. This could be a difference in tone, color, or the contrast of warm and cool shades.

The artist resorts to this technique when he wants to highlight some element of the subject. This could be a vein on a plant, a separate petal, or a tree trunk against the sky. Then the light, illuminated part of the object and the shadow under it are depicted (or vice versa).

Transitions and color solutions

When painting Japanese paintings, transitions are often used. They can be different: for example, from one color to another. On the petals of water lilies and peonies you can notice the transition from light shade to a rich, bright color.

Transitions are also used in the image of the water surface and sky. Looks very nice smooth transition from sunset to dark, deepening twilight. When drawing clouds, they also use transitions from different shades and reflexes.

Basic motives of Japanese painting

In art, everything is interconnected with real life, with the feelings and emotions of those involved in it. As in literature, music and other manifestations of creativity, in painting there are several eternal themes. These are historical subjects, images of people and nature.

Japanese landscapes come in many varieties. Often in paintings there are images of ponds - a favorite piece of furniture for the Japanese. Decorative pond, several water lilies and bamboo nearby - this is what it looks like ordinary picture 17-18 centuries.

Animals in Japanese painting

Animals are also a frequently recurring element in Asian painting. Traditionally it is a prowling tiger or a domestic cat. In general, Asians are very fond of and therefore their representatives are found in all forms of oriental art.

The world of fauna is another theme that Japanese painting follows. Birds - cranes, decorative parrots, luxurious peacocks, swallows, inconspicuous sparrows and even roosters - all of them are found in the drawings of oriental masters.

Pisces - no less actual topic for Japanese artists. Koi carp are the Japanese version of goldfish. These creatures live in Asia in all ponds, even in small parks and gardens. Koi carp is a kind of tradition that belongs specifically to Japan. These fish symbolize struggle, determination, and achieving your goal. It’s not for nothing that they are depicted as floating with the flow, always with decorative combs waves

Japanese paintings: depiction of people

People in Japanese painting are a special theme. Artists depicted geishas, ​​emperors, warriors and elders.

Geishas are depicted surrounded by flowers, always wearing elaborate robes with many folds and elements.

Sages are depicted sitting or explaining something to their students. The image of the old scientist is a symbol of the history, culture and philosophy of Asia.

The warrior was portrayed as formidable, sometimes terrifying. The long ones were drawn in detail and looked like wire.

Usually all the details of the armor are clarified using ink. Often naked warriors are decorated with tattoos depicting an eastern dragon. It is a symbol of Japan's strength and military might.

Rulers were depicted for imperial families. Beautiful robes, decorations in men's hair are what such works of art abound in.

Landscapes

Traditional Japanese landscape - mountains. Asian painters have succeeded in depicting a variety of landscapes: they can depict the same peak in different colors, with different atmospheres. The only thing that remains unchanged is the obligatory presence of flowers. Usually, along with mountains, the artist depicts some kind of plant on foreground and draws it in detail. The mountains and cherry blossoms. And if they paint falling petals, the picture evokes admiration for its sad beauty. The contrast in the atmosphere of the picture is another wonderful quality Japanese culture.

Hieroglyphs

Often the composition of a picture in Japanese painting is combined with writing. The hieroglyphs are arranged so that they look beautiful compositionally. They are usually drawn on the left or right of the painting. Hieroglyphs can represent what is depicted in the painting, its title, or the name of the artist.

Japan is one of the richest countries in history and culture. All over the world, the Japanese are generally considered to be pedantic people who find aesthetics in absolutely all manifestations of life. Therefore, Japanese paintings are always very harmonious in color and tone: if there are inclusions of some bright color- then only in semantic centers. Using paintings by Asian artists as an example, you can study color theory, correct representation of form using graphics, and composition. The technique of execution of Japanese paintings is so high that it can serve as an example for working with watercolors and performing “washing” of graphic works.

Art and design

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01.02.18 09:02

Today's art scene Japan is very diverse and provocative: looking at the works of masters from the Land of the Rising Sun, you will decide that you have arrived on another planet! Home to innovators who have changed the landscape of the industry on a global scale. Here's a list of 10 contemporary Japanese artists and their creations, from the incredible creatures of Takashi Murakami (who celebrates his birthday today) to the colorful universe of Kusama.

From futuristic worlds to dotted constellations: contemporary Japanese artists

Takashi Murakami: traditionalist and classic

Let's start with the hero of the occasion! Takashi Murakami is one of Japan's most iconic contemporary artists, working on paintings, large-scale sculptures and fashion clothing. Murakami's style is influenced by manga and anime. He is the founder of the Superflat movement, supporting Japanese artistic traditions and the post-war culture of the country. Murakami promoted many of his fellow contemporaries, and we will also meet some of them today. “Subcultural” works of Takashi Murakami are presented in the art markets of fashion and art. His provocative My Lonesome Cowboy (1998) was sold in New York at Sotheby's in 2008 for a record $15.2 million. Murakami collaborated with the world famous brands Marc Jacobs, Louis Vuitton and Issey Miyake.

Quietly Ashima and her surreal universe

A member of the art production company Kaikai Kiki and the Superflat movement (both founded by Takashi Murakami), Chicho Ashima is known for her fantastical cityscapes and strange pop creatures. The artist creates surreal dreams inhabited by demons, ghosts, young beauties depicted in the background outlandish nature. Her works are usually large-scale and printed on paper, leather, and plastic. In 2006, this modern Japanese artist participated in Art on the Underground in London. She created 17 consecutive arches for the platform - the magical landscape gradually turned from daytime to nighttime, from urban to rural. This miracle bloomed at Gloucester Road tube station.

Chiharu Shima and the endless threads

Another artist, Chiharu Shiota, works on large-scale visual installations for specific landmarks. She was born in Osaka, but now lives in Germany - in Berlin. Central themes her work is oblivion and memory, dreams and reality, past and present, and also the confrontation of anxiety. The most famous works Chiharu Shiota - impenetrable networks of black thread, covering many household and personal objects - such as old chairs, Wedding Dress, burnt piano. In the summer of 2014, Shiota tied together donated shoes and boots (of which there were more than 300) with strands of red yarn and hung them on hooks. Chiharu's first exhibition in the German capital took place during Berlin Art Week in 2016 and caused a sensation.

Hey Arakawa: everywhere, nowhere

Hei Arakawa is inspired by states of change, periods of instability, elements of risk, and his installations often symbolize themes of friendship and collective work. The credo of the contemporary Japanese artist is defined by the performative, indefinite “everywhere, but nowhere.” His creations pop up in unexpected places. In 2013, Arakawa's works were exhibited at Venice Biennale and in the exhibition of Japanese contemporary art at the Mori Art Museum (Tokyo). Installation Hawaiian Presence (2014) was joint project with New York artist Carissa Rodriguez and participated in the Whitney Biennial. Also in 2014, Arakawa and his brother Tomu, performing as a duo called United Brothers, offered visitors to Frieze London their “work” “The This Soup Taste Ambivalent” with “radioactive” Fukushima daikon root vegetables.

Koki Tanaka: Relationships and Repetitions

In 2015, Koki Tanaka was recognized as “Artist of the Year”. Tanaka explores the shared experience of creativity and imagination, encourages exchange between project participants, and advocates for new rules of collaboration. Its installation in the Japanese pavilion at the 2013 Venice Biennale consisted of videos of objects that transformed the space into a platform for artistic exchange. The installations of Koki Tanaka (not to be confused with his full namesake actor) illustrate the relationship between objects and actions, for example, the video contains recordings of simple gestures performed with ordinary objects (a knife cutting vegetables, beer being poured into a glass, opening an umbrella). Nothing significant happens, but obsessive repetition and attention to to the smallest details make the viewer appreciate the worldly.

Mariko Mori and streamlined shapes

Another contemporary Japanese artist, Mariko Mori, “conjures” multimedia objects, combining videos, photographs, and objects. She is characterized by a minimalist futuristic vision and sleek surreal forms. A recurring theme in Mori's work is the juxtaposition of Western legend with Western culture. In 2010, Mariko founded the Fau Foundation, an educational cultural non-profit organization, for which she created a series of art installations honoring the six inhabited continents. Most recently, the Foundation's permanent installation "Ring: One with Nature" was erected over a picturesque waterfall in Resende near Rio de Janeiro.

Ryoji Ikeda: sound and video synthesis

Ryoji Ikeda is a new media artist and composer whose work primarily deals with sound in various “raw” states, from sine waves to noise using frequencies at the edge of human hearing. His immersive installations include computer-generated sounds that are visually transformed into video projections or digital patterns. Ikeda's audiovisual art objects use scale, light, shadow, volume, electronic sounds and rhythm. The artist's famous test facility consists of five projectors that illuminate an area 28 meters long and 8 meters wide. The setup converts data (text, sounds, photos and movies) into barcodes and binary patterns of ones and zeros.

Tatsuo Miyajima and LED counters

Contemporary Japanese sculptor and installation artist Tatsuo Miyajima uses electrical circuits, videos, computers and other gadgets in his art. Miyajima's core concepts are inspired by humanistic ideas and Buddhist teachings. The LED counters in his installations flash continuously in repetition from 1 to 9, symbolizing the journey from life to death, but avoiding the finality that is represented by 0 (zero never appears in Tatsuo's work). The ubiquitous numbers in grids, towers, and diagrams express Miyajima's interest in ideas of continuity, eternity, connection, and the flow of time and space. Recently, Miyajima's "Arrow of Time" was shown at the inaugural exhibition "Unfinished Thoughts Visible in New York."

Nara Yoshimoto and the evil children

Nara Yoshimoto creates paintings, sculptures, and drawings of children and dogs—subjects that reflect childhood feelings of boredom and frustration and the fierce independence that comes naturally to toddlers. The aesthetics of Yoshimoto's work are reminiscent of traditional book illustrations, is a mixture of restless tension and the artist's love of punk rock. In 2011, Yoshimoto’s first solo exhibition, entitled “Yoshitomo Nara: Nobody’s Fool,” was held at the Asia Society Museum in New York, covering the 20-year career of the contemporary Japanese artist. The exhibits were closely related to global youth subcultures and their alienation and protest.

Yayoi Kusama and space growing into strange forms

Amazing creative biography Kusama's Yayoi spans seven decades. During this time, the amazing Japanese woman managed to study the fields of painting, graphics, collage, sculpture, cinema, engraving, environmental art, installation, as well as literature, fashion and clothing design. Kusama developed a very distinctive style of dot art that has become her trademark. The illusory visions depicted in 88-year-old Kusama's work—where the world appears to be covered in sprawling, outlandish forms—are the result of hallucinations she has experienced since childhood. Rooms with colorful dots and “infinity” mirrors reflecting their clusters are recognizable and cannot be confused with anything else.