Sunday, December 4, 2016

The Influence of Japanese Prints on Van Gogh

In the 1800s, Western art was heavily influenced by Japanese prints. Vincent Van Gogh once wrote to his brother, Theo “We like Japanese painting we have felt its influence, all the Impressionists have that in common.” The Impressionists appreciate he bright colors of the Japanese artwork, the bold lines and the two dimensional backgrounds. This Japanese influence featured heavily in Van Gogh’s artwork. This exhibit allows you to compare Van Gogh’s work to the Japanese art he so admired.

Artist: Nineteen prints by Kikugawa Eizan (Japanese, 1787–1867)
Artist: Two prints by Utagawa Kunisada (Japanese, 1786–1865)
Artist: Three prints by Utagawa Kunimaru (Japanese, 1793–1829)
Title: Album of Prints by Kikugawa Eizan, Utagawa Kunisada, and Utagawa Kunimaru
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: 19th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Album of 24 polychrome woodblock prints; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: 14 5/8 × 9 3/4 × 1 1/4 in. (37.1 × 24.8 × 3.2 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Gift of Mary L. Cassilly, 1894
Accession Number: JP205



This album feature artwork by three different artists. The top portrait shows two Geishas on a blank background. Their colorful clothes appealed to Impressionist ideals as well as the two-dimensional quality of the background. The Geisha theme is seen in other Japanese artwork from this time period.

Artist: Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, Zundert 1853–1890 Auvers-sur-Oise)
Title: Madame Roulin and Her Baby
Date: 1888
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 25 x 20 1/8 in.
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Robert Lehman Collection, 1975
Accession Number: 1975.1.231


The baby is detailed but appears to lay flat against the background. Madame Roulin blends in with the background only distinguished by a sharp outline of her form. The bold outlines were learned from the Japanese artists as were the bright colors.

Artist: Rankō (Japanese)
Artist: Watanabe Nangaku (Japanese, 1763–1813)
Artist: Tetsuzan Sōdon (Japanese, 1532–1617)
Title: Album of the Phoenix Bird (Ranpō jō)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: 1806
Culture: Japan
Medium: Woodblock printed book (orihon, accordion-style); ink and color on paper with metallic pigments (?)
Dimensions: 9 13/16 × 7 1/16 in. (25 × 18 cm)
Classification: Illustrated Books
Credit Line: Purchase, Mary and James G. Wallach Foundation Gift, 2013
Accession Number: 2013.794


This album features artwork by three different artists. The particular picture being shown depicts two women on the bottom right corner and four cherry blossom trees on the top right corner atop two otherwise barren hills. The women’s clothes are brightly colored contrasting with the barren unpainted hills. The bold outlines provide an even starker contrast between the women and the hills so you can see clearly where one ends and the other begins. There is some depth in that the trees are smaller than the women showing they are farther away.

Artist: Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, Zundert 1853–1890 Auvers-sur-Oise)
Title: Irises
Date: 1890               
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 29 x 36 1/4 in. (73.7 x 92.1 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Gift of Adele R. Levy, 1958
Accession Number: 58.187

Van Gogh’s “Irises” show blue irises that fill up the majority of the picture. They are set in a white vase upon a green table against a pale pink background. The table is simply a horizontal green strip with a loose black outline and takes up about an eighth of the picture. The irises are centered on the table and extend to both sides of the frame giving it a feeling of being flat. The brush strokes are varied and very visible and give the painting texture. Van Gogh uses a limited color scheme composed of cool colors which gives the viewer a since of harmony and peace.


Artist: Woodblock for a print designed by Utagawa Toyokuni I (Japanese, 1769–1825)
Title: An Actor Beside Water
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Culture: Japan
Medium: Polychrome woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: 14 x 8 7/8 in. (35.6 x 22.5 cm)
Classification: Prints
Credit Line: Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur J. Steel, 1960
Accession Number: JP3392


The man is detailed and naturalistic. You can see shading in his clothes and muscles in his arms and legs, and his stomach bulges. In contrast, the background is very two dimensional and the man appears to be right on top of it. The background also takes up the largest portion of the artwork.  These are things that fascinated Impressionists like Vincent van Gogh.

Artist: Vincent van Gogh (Dutch, Zundert 1853–1890 Auvers-sur-Oise)
Title: Wheat Field with Cypresses
Date: 1889
Medium: Oil on canvas
Dimensions: 28 7/8 × 36 3/4 in. (73.2 × 93.4 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: Purchase, The Annenberg Foundation Gift, 1993
Accession Number: 1993.132




The large open sky, visible brush strokes, and the concreteness of the clouds are typical of Van Gogh. The open sky and swirls in the clouds are techniques that could’ve been inspired by Japanese painters. The detail he puts into the landscape scene however, is more reminiscent of the European tradition. The visible brush strokes are also characteristic of the Impressionist era but don’t seem to be taken from the Japanese prints. 

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