Influence on Western art by Hokusai and Ukiyo-e


Hokusai and the Ukiyo-e woodblock prints had a significant influence on Western art during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Ukiyo-e prints, with their bold lines, flattened space, and bright colors, were appreciated for their unique aesthetics and novel subject matter, which depicted everyday life and popular culture.

Artists such as Vincent Van Gogh, Edgar Degas, and Mary Cassatt were among those who were inspired by Hokusai's work and the Ukiyo-e tradition. Van Gogh, in particular, collected Japanese prints and incorporated elements of their style into his own work, including the use of strong outlines and bright colors.

Hokusai's iconic series, "Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji," which features the mountain in various settings and perspectives, was especially popular among Western audiences. The image of the massive, solitary peak had a profound impact on artists and designers, influencing the development of modernist aesthetics and graphic design.

Furthermore, the introduction of Japanese aesthetics and subject matter into Western art also helped to challenge traditional notions of beauty and fine art. The Ukiyo-e prints, with their focus on everyday life and ordinary people, paved the way for later movements such as Impressionism and Post-Impressionism, which also sought to capture the fleeting moments and sensations of contemporary life.

https://japancrafts21.com/