The mysterious art of Japan continues to fascinate with its uniqueness and originality for many centuries, leaving European spectators in delight, inspiring and, sometimes, putting confused. To understand the true meaning of the works of Japanese artists requires not only visual perception, but also some knowledge of the history and culture of the country of the rising sun. Each detail or its absence in the work can fundamentally change its meaning. And even such aspects as the intensity and style of applying a smear play an important role.
In this blog, we will talk about the key features of Japanese painting, plunge into the most vivid directions and outstanding representatives of this art, as well as touch a little philosophy of Japan, which has an integral impact on its artistic work. We invite you on an exciting journey through the world of Japanese painting, where each brush becomes a bridge between the art and soul of this amazing country.
The history of Japanese painting
The history of the development of Japanese painting originates back in the 3rd century BC. Then rather simple geometric drawings were mainly applied to pottery and bronze products. Then images began to appear on the walls of the crypts, and with the advent of Buddhism, the religious theme began to prevail in the visual arts. Increasingly, the deities of the pantheon of the new faith, as well as the plots from the life of the teacher and his followers appeared in the paintings of Japanese artists. And besides the drawing itself, there was a text that described or complemented the plot of work.
It is worth noting that since the appearance of writing, calligraphy and painting are closely intertwined at all stages of the development of Japanese art. In this regard, the line plays a large role, while color and perspective are secondary. This is evidenced by a significant number of monochrome paintings, where images are similar to iconograms that carry their own subtext. Moreover, this feature was fixed as a separate style by the beginning of the XIV century under the name Sumy-e.
This technique is widely used now to write paintings in various genres, and therefore it has many forms. Therefore, we propose to get acquainted with Japanese painting Sumi-e in more detail, as one of its most striking directions.
Japanese painting Sumi-e
Literally, the name of this monochrome painting is translated as mascara and drawing (sum - mascara, e - drawing). This technique came to Japan from China in the XII century, when the wandering Buddhist monks began to spread Chinese culture. However, here it gained a different, Japanese development, and was formed in a separate characteristic feature of the painting of this country.
As it is already clear from the name itself, in Sumy-e artists use only black mascara, playing with color saturation and creating a rich palette of gray shades. Indeed, despite its monochrome, one of the basic principles of this technique is the transmission of the feeling of the presence of colors. Also, the creation of any preliminary sketches and sketches is excluded here, so the application of strokes should be worked out to automatism.
Another feature is that, unlike Western masters, the artist does not have the task of a clear display of reality. The master conveys the essence of the picture by passing what he saw through his own perception. Thus, the viewer does not open a reliable landscape of the area or a portrait of a person, but the image that arose in the imagination of the artist
The leading role in creating the picture is played by the internal mood. It is important to arrive in a state of impassive contemplation, as if merging with nature together. Perhaps that is why birds and flowers are so common in the paintings of Japanese masters and deserve special attention.
Japanese painting flowers
The philosophy of Japanese art is based on the search for sophistication and beauty in the surrounding reality. Well, what, if not flowers, is their direct embodiment. Moreover, the inhabitants of Japan were lucky to be able to observe many flowering plants, one of which is, of course, Sakura. From ancient times to the present day, the flowering of this tree does not stop delighting with its beauty, which inspires and inspires poets, musicians and artists.
But in addition to Sakura, in this country there are still many beautiful plants and flowers that have gained their meaning and symbolism in the art and philosophy of the Japanese. So, for example, chrysanthemum is considered a symbol of the sun, abundance and perfection. And the image of this flower with 16 petals has been an imperial seal for several centuries.
Piones, which for a long time were even forbidden to export the country for a long time. They personify courage and courage in Japanese culture, and were often depicted on samurai armor. Also, the list of revered and common in painting of colors includes hydrangea. According to legend, on the birthday of Buddha from the sky it was rained from these beautiful colors. Therefore, it is not surprising that the image of this flower became characteristic of Sumy-e, who came with Buddhist monks.
In addition to the above colors, irises (heroism and militancy), hibiscus (abundance), wild orchid (chastity), camelly (resistance and longevity), glycia (youth and grace), a miracle (fleeting and originality), lily (openness) have their symbols. And of course a rose (love). All of them became an important part of Japanese painting both as the main element of the picture and carrying their own meaning in the details of the plot works.
Bright representatives of Japanese painting
You can talk endlessly about the magic of Japanese painting, because it is so unique and multifaceted in its manifestations. However, as you know, it is better to see once than to hear a hundred times. In this blog, we present to your attention several works from the most outstanding artists of the country of the rising sun, whose paintings gained fame far beyond Japan.
We plunge into the magical world of the moment, evaluating the work of these bright masters and their ability to convey the uniqueness of Japanese culture through the artistic language. The paintings of these artists are not only colorful and impressive, but also became real messages of art, revealing the beauty and depth of the Japanese soul. Get ready for a visual immersion in the amazing world of art, where each picture is not just a canvas, but a revelation.
“Reading in the Bamboe Grove,” Tenser Syubun. The artist was the founder of Japanese painting Sumi-e and made a significant contribution to its distribution.
"Pines", Khasegava Tokhaku. The basis of the work of the master is simple and concise landscapes, with the help of which he developed his individual handwriting and even created his own school, named in his honor - Hasegava.
"Big Wave in Canagava", Katsusika Hokusai. The author of the picture began to engage in painting hard at 60 years old, but his work attracted the attention of such outstanding European artists as Vincent Van Gogh, Claude Monet and Pierre Auguste Renoir. Thus, he had a certain influence on their work.
"727", Takashi Murakami. The artist is one of the most popular living representatives of Japanese art. Its works are characterized by a mixture of traditional motives with modern pop culture
Japanese painting: bridge to the unique world of symbols and philosophy
Japanese painting is not just an art, it is a deep immersion in the spirit of the country, its history and philosophy. With each smear, artists convey not only visual images, but also a wealth of culture, permeated with the spirit of time. Hundreds of years of development of this art indicate its uniqueness, and the Sumi-E technique becomes an integral part of the Japanese artistic tradition.
Based on the philosophy of the impassive contemplation of nature, Japanese artists create works where each flower and plant carry their symbols. From sakura to chrysanthemum, these flowers become not only objects of the image, but also the keys to the deep meanings embodied in every picture. Japanese painting is the art of admiration, inspiration and immersion in a unique world, where every brush is a feather writing the history of the Japanese soul.