As Japan finally opened trade with Europe in the late 19th century, many European artists were fascinated and inspired by the Japanese art and skill referred by the French as "Japonisme." It would set the stage for not only inspiring the Impressionists, but also set for the future of Art Nouveau and Art Deco.
The Impressionists were particularly interested in the flat dimensions, bold colors and stylized dramatic subjects of Japonisme. From imported wrapping paper Monet saw in a spice shop to Japanese silks inspiring Van Gogh, many felt that a door opened to combining their style with that of another culture.
Each artist combined their talent with the Japanese influence of everyday matters and objects. It might be a bridge or a woman washing her hair. Through the Japanese woodblock prints and paintings, it might be the perspective where the artist's view was above the scene they were painting. Some artists took inspiration from the flat composition without shading for perspective sometime involving a mix of textile designs.
The list of Impressionist whose works were inspired by Japonisme
includes such luminaries as: Cassatt, Whistler, Degas and the
aforementioned Van Gogh and Monet. (How many can you identify?)
It changed the rules and lead to one of the most fertile creative periods for Europe into the 20th Century.
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