Amsterdam, 16 January 2012, Art Media Agency, (AMA).
Amsterdam’s Van Gogh Museum is currently hosting the exhibition “East-West: Japan and Japonism” until 29 January 2012.
Following the lifting of the embargo against Japan in the mid 19th century, Japanese engravings steadily spread across Europe. The influence of these early oriental imports gradually increased. Artists began to adopt similar techniques, including the use of tints and frames. They also began to incorporate Japanese themes, for instance, Van Gogh would paint chrysanthamums. This Japanese influence, dubbed ‘Japonism’, would manifest itself not only in painting, but also in decorative arts, textiles, architecture and photography.
The exhibition presents several Japanese-inspired works by Western artists, including Pierre Bonnard, Henri Rivière, Félix Buhot, Toulouse Lautrec and Vincent Van Gogh. The exhibition is made up of a total of forty Japanese engravings.