Art History - S2 A4

History proposal:

Students to write 3 paragraphs (length of each not specified) based on chosen sub-topic of Art in the Asia Pacific region (with tutor discussion):

·      Cultural context of art (who makes it, how they make it, and where)

·      Historical context of art (what was happening while the art was being made)

·      Global context (how did outsiders effect or appropriate the art)

** Proposal to be 400-600 words long and may include supporting visuals

Culture context in Japans Art History,

Japan's Art History Context is divided up into art periods that correspond to different historical events. The main Art periods that are discussed in Art History are Kofun period (300-552 C.E.), Nara period (710–794), Heian period (794–1185), Kamakura period (1185-1333), Muromachi period (1392–1573) and lastly Edo period (1615–1868). Japans art history is filled with mix media art, to showcase the history of Japan and to tell stories of history and myths. "Literacy came to Japan via China, and the Chinese system of writing was adopted. Although a phonetic alphabet was also developed, the pictographic characters remained important, and as in China, the result was that visual symbolism associated with plants, animals, and other objects strongly affected the content and meaning of Japanese art and design.... Individual portraits, scenes of daily life, studies of plants and animals were done, and these images were handled with spontaneity and individualism.... Japanese style tends toward a paring down to essentials, an attempt to capture the basic form and characteristics of a specific subject. Also a style of painting called Ukiyo-e, which became known to Westerners mainly through woodcut prints in the 19th century, developed very distinctive, dramatic ways of using line and color in landscape, portraiture, and other subjects. Ukiyo-e prints had an important effect on the work of Western artists." (Jirousek, N.D.). This is important as a key part of Japans art history is their way of capturing information and showing the information through woodcut prints or hanging scrolls. "Kakemono (hanging scrolls) were originally used to display Buddhist paintings, and calligraphy. The painting in ink and colors on either silk or paper was backed with paper and given silk borders chosen to harmonize with the painting" (Khan Academy, N.D.)

 The historical context of art

In Japan Art history, a lot of different things where happening, as in each period something new was happening to create a new reaction or reasoning behind the change in movement. There are currently fourteen art period movement, which are reactions to change in political statues or change in aesthetics. As discussed before  Kofun period (300-552 C.E.), Nara period (710–794), Heian period (794–1185), Kamakura period (1185-1333), Muromachi period (1392–1573) and lastly Edo period (1615–1868) is the mainly discussed art periods in Japan. During the Nara period it was "For the first time there is a fixed capital for the empire: Nara. Previously, in fact, it ranged when the Emperor died. Decisive the influence of Buddhism in artistic production." (Artjapanese.com, N.D.), Heian period (794–1185) "Flourishes the production of mandala, and of the first pagodas. The court began to develop great attention to the arts. By this time the famous Genji Monogatari." (Artjapanese.com, N.D.) Also known as the last classical division in Japan art history, while also being at the peak of influence of China and Budissim. Kamakura period (1185-1333) "It takes its name from the shogunate during which we are witnessing the shift of power from the aristocracy to the military samurai class. In art prevails realism."(Artjapanese.com, N.D.). Muromachi period (1392–1573) "After the interlude of the city of Kamakura, the imperial capital back to being Kyoto. The artists take up less popular and aristocratic themes. Decisive influence of Zen." (Artjapanese.com, N.D.) Lastly the Edo period "It is the triumph of political and military power of the Tokugawa who moved the capital to Tokyo and closed all the doors to contacts with foreigners. Great attention given to science and techniques."(Artjapanese.com, N.D.).

Global context

Japan has had a large influence on Western culture because of there distinctive style and artistic approaches to aesthetic. Artist such as " Impressionists Edgar Degas, Auguste Renoir and Camille Pissarro; printmaker Felix Vallotton, graphic artist Aubrey Beardsley, lithographic poster designer Alphonse Mucha and Viennese Sezessionist Gustave Klimt, as well as architects Frank Lloyd Wright (1867-1959), Edward W.Godwin and Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and ceramicists Taxile Doat and Edmond Lachenal. In Scotland, C.R.Mackintosh and the Glasgow School of Painting (1880-1915) were strongly influenced by Japonist styles and colours."(Visual-arts-cork.com, N.D.) have been influenced by Japans Art and culture. Though the effects the outside world had on Japan was shown through art as when the Portuguese arrived in Japan. "When the Emperor of Japan regained ruling power in 1868, Japan was opened to new Western art and culture from which it had been isolated for nearly 250 years (see my post on The Meiji Period). The introduction of Western cultural values led to a dichotomy in Japanese art, as well as in nearly every other aspect of culture, between traditional values and attempts to duplicate and assimilate a variety of clashing new ideas" (Okimono Project, 2015)

References 

Artjapanese.com. (N.D.). BRIEF HISTORY OF JAPANESE ART - ArtJapanese.com. [online] Available at: https://www.artjapanese.com/brief-history-of-japanese-art.php [Accessed 29 Sep. 2019].

Jirousek, C. (N.D.). Japan: Historic Background. [online] Char.txa.cornell.edu. Available at: http://char.txa.cornell.edu/nonwest/japan/japanhis.htm [Accessed 29 Sep. 2019].

Khan Academy. (N.D.). Japan | Art of Asia | Arts and humanities |Khan Academy. [online] Available at: https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/art-asia/art-japan [Accessed 29 Sep. 2019].

Okimono Project. (2015). Western Influence on Japanese Art. [online] Available at: https://okimonoproject.wordpress.com/2015/04/14/western-influence-on-japanese-art/ [Accessed 29 Sep. 2019].

Visual-arts-cork.com. (N.D.). Japonism (1854-1900). [online] Available at: http://www.visual-arts-cork.com/history-of-art/japonism.htm [Accessed 21 Sep. 2019].