Essay Meiji Period

Japan’s literati paintings where inspired by China, which was only connected with Japan through Korea. One of the most famous painters of this style was Yosa Buson, using poetic ability with both haiku and his paintings. (Kleiner 1075) These changes soon led to the availability of cheap prints and ukiyo-e to depict the delights of the city. One of the most famous ukiyo-e printmakers was Suzuki Harunobu who influenced the development of polychrome prints. These prints were very sumptuous and colorful and called nishiki-e (“brocade pictures”). These prints were made of the best quality materials and costly pigments and were not very common in the Edo period. Harunobu’s genius in his work is well shown in the Evening Bell at the Clock (Fig. 34-1). This print was based on a Chinese series where the images depicted a certain time of day or time of year in the work. In Harunobu’s version, the subjects were beautiful young women and their activities in their daily lives. The two women in the pint are seen from a regular Japanese elevated point of view, with one drying herself and the other looking away at a clock. Private scenes like this were very common in ukiyo-e. Before Harunobu’s Evening Bell at the Clock, this theme was not a regular subject seen in ukiyo-e, but soon became a common sight. These prints used flatness and rich colors to

Ukiyo-e is the name given to one of the most important art forms in all of Japan. Arriving as a new form of art in the 1700's these prints served as a record of daily life and pleasures in a newly wealthy Japanese society. The Japanese themselves had long regarded pleasure as transient because of their Buddhist heratige, because of this the word Ukiyo-e actually means "pictures of the floating world". These prints were truly art which reflected the whims of the masses. They record popular styles of dress, new hairstyles etc. They also record the popular Kabuki theater actors, the most beautiful geisha's (or prostitutes), and later even landscapes. Within the realm of Ukiyo-e there are many masters, but there is one master,

Both the Japanese and Russian government passed legislation that would assure the abolition of feudalism and free serfs from their lords. In the mid-nineteenth century the Japanese went through a period commonly known as The Meiji Restoration. During this period major changes occurred, one of them being the shift from a shogunate to an emperor.

However, the golden age of Japanese ceramics did not really begin until the sixteenth century when the tea master Sen no Rikyū popularized the tea ceremony. In his refinement of this art form, Rikyū found beauty in the earthly and natural forms of pottery and thus commissioned the production of “raku ware,” which today, is considered the pinnacle of Japanese pottery. Notable for its ruggedness and imperfections, raku ware made Rikyū into a central figure in the establishment of the wabi-sabi aesthetic. In the beginning, the textures and colors of wabi-sabi vessels were left to develop naturally. However, over time, several wabi-sabi artists began experimenting and even developed techniques to intentionally create these alterations. Obviously, the exact shape and form of an imperfection cannot be controlled but the intention can be realized in an oxymoronic “controlled natural look.”

Wood block art was aimed at the prosperous merchant class with images of beautiful women, historic events, kabuki actors, sumo wrestlers, folk tales, landscapes and beautiful flowers, and erotica.

Japan is been always known for their unique artstyle, but none is more influential on both Japanese and western cultural than Katsushika Hokusai. Many consider his paintings the pinnacle of art in the Edo period. The old man of many names is a true part of both japanese and art culture.

The Meiji Restoration played a significant role in the modernisation of Japan. The Meiji period was a time of political and social revolution. It brought momentous social, political and economic changes to Japan, and these changes became the foundation of the Japan we know today. Prior to the 1868 Restoration, Japan was a militarily weak country with a feudal agricultural society, and was controlled by feudal lords. When the Meiji period ended with the Emperor's death in 1912, Japan was a well-developed nation with a constitutional monarchy, an elected government, a strong economy, a powerful military and a well educated population.

When Japan opened its waters backed for trade, a vast amount of influence swept the European countries. Along with the Japanese products came an influence in the art of Europe called “Japonisme”. This type of art tended to focus on the beauty of everyday life such as the focus on many of the Japanese woodblocks. The most obvious influence of Japan on European art was a painting by James Jacques Joseph Tissot called Japanese Vase. This painting perfectly emphasizes and illustrates the common indicators of Japanese influence on European art.

Feudal Japan was a time in Japanese history that lasted from 1185 to 1603 A.D. This influential time included the rise of the bakufu, or tent government, and rule by shōgun. It also included many wars, battles, and introductions of new weapons, ideas, or religions from foreign places. The mentioned introductions included firearms, Buddhism, and Christianity.

The Tokugawa Period is often said to be the longest period of peace in Japanese history; as it was a period characterized by economic reform, the celebration of art and culture, and the installation of new social order. Ieyasu Tokugawa, with the aid of Toyotomi Hideyoshi and Oda Nobunaga, first established the Tokugawa Shogunate in 1603 as a means of reforming Japanese society and government. During this period, significant policies were enforced in order to ensure that power remained in the hands of the Shogunate, and also to negate the possibility of conflict between different domains. With Ieyasu beginning his rule, Japan was ending its Sengoku period; otherwise known as the Warring States period, Japanese society was finally leaving an era marked by social upheaval, suffering political stability, and domanial conflict. In

Since samurai were a very respected social class, we can tell from this painting that they were “famous” enough to have a special type of outfit, only associated with them, starring in films and printings by other artists. The fact they have a special formal outfit that is regarded “theirs” proves their role in medieval Japan.

The drums of war rang between each print as each tried to catch your undivided attention. The atmosphere they created was of a battle between the two greatest ukiyo-e artist that has lastest the last three century. Ukiyo-e is a genre of Japanese art, consisting

At the same time, it expanded to reflect modern tastes and innovations over its development. The result was an art that was both populist and highly sophisticated. Ukiyo-e presented both the historical and all that was current, elegant, contemporary, and popular. The ordinary was transformed into the extraordinary in the hands of the artist.

Post-war Japanese society is a world where High and Low art is blurred together by otaku, such as anime, and social class. However, Takashi Murakami straddles the line. Murakami spills a mix of Nihanga and Otaku into the canvases, plastic toys, handbags, shoes, etc; endorsing his own theory/style named “Superflat”. Using strategical subject matter such as popular Japanese comic figures combined with ukiyo-e(traditional Japanese block prints), and addressing these contrasting qualities to outside cultures; Murakami intensifies what Pop Art accomplished, art versus material. On other feelings, one could argue that “Superflat” isn’t a unique, Japan-identified style, that “Superflat” is a humiliation to the Contemporary Art world because of its commercialism. Lastly, that is a continuation of the already well developed Pop Art. On the supporting side, Murakami’s “Superflat” is a high-energy, cross-culture style that serves as a new way to represent the high and low of art that is considerably unique to Japan. To support this, Murakami’s past and present artwork will have to be established chronologically to illustrate how the timeline affects his work.

The Meiji Restoration was a timeline of events all leading up to the change of Japan. It had military, social, cultural and economical changes that evolved Japan to become a world power. This Meiji Restoration timeline of events occurred from 1868 until 1912 and was a very influential and important time for medieval Japan. The ruler during this period, Emperor Meiji, changed the entire way that Japan was run and how the people were led and influenced. Japan gradually became an overall world power with the events that were implemented during this period.