 |
|
 |
|
Aestheticism
and Japonisme
|
|
|
There were exibitions of Ukiyo-e art in Paris during the 1860's, and the resulting popularity of anything Japanese in style spread through all fields of both Fine and Decorative arts, as well as design. The Ukiyo-e "Floating World" school of printmaking in 18th-19th-c Japan included such artists as Hiroshige. Their subject matter was non-heroic, based on a notion that all is transient. The subjects were often everyday. They were mass-produced as woodcuts, cheap enough for the average Japanese person to afford. They weren't considered Fine Art in their native context, but they had a huge impact both on Fine Art (eg: French Impressionism) as well as the decorative arts. Characteristics of Ukiyo-e included:
Some
examples of Victorian Japonisme in Europe I found online include: For a reverse perspective, here's an interesting site about the influence of Western Culture on Japanese Art & Design :) euronet.nl/users/artnv/Japart.index.html |
 Graphic designers such as Toulouse Lautrec were especially influenced by Ukiyo-e. |
|
|
EW Godwin (1833-1886) Architect
and furniture designer who was an important figure in the Aesthetic
movement. |
 |
|
Christopher Dresser (1834-1904) Designer,
writer. Maker of those oh-so-perfect-it's-difficult-to-live-up-to teapots.
He travelled to Japan to find goods to import for sale by Liberty's
of London. What he saw there affected his own work very much, and the
stark simplicity of some of his work now looks far ahead of it's time.
Lisa Iley's very thorough tutorial
looked at the works of Christopher Dresser. As
another example of the Japanese influence, compare one of the most famous
Ukiyo-e prints, "The Great Wave Off Kanagawa" by Hokusai with
"Wave Bowl" by Christopher Dresser. Look familiar?
|
  |
|
|
Liberty & Co of London Imported and commissioned local designers to make homewares in the Aesthetic, Japanese, Chinese and other exotic-influenced styles. They were famous for lush textiles, embossed wallpapers, silverware and other exotic and opulent household goods. Liberty's good often looked reminiscent of the parallel Arts & Crafts Movement. The main difference was that Liberty & Co were completely commercial, not motivated by social concerns as were Morris & Co and the other members of the Arts & Crafts Movement. Although Liberty & Co started off producing a wide range of exotically-influenced designs, over time they moved away from this Victorian aeclecticism into a more clean, streamlined style, such as in the silverware of Archibald Knox. This developed into a branch of Art Nouveau, which we'll be covering later. Many
of their designs of both Liberty's early aeclectic and later Art Nouveau
periods are still produced today. |
 |
|
|
James McNeill Whistler (1834-1903) US born, Whistler studied art in France then moved to London, and many of his best-known works were painted there (so I've included him in the UK Aesthetics). John Ruskin, Art Critic and philosopher of the Arts & Crafts Movement, particularly disliked Whistler's works - which just added to his noteriety. Whistler in fact sued Ruskin for libel and won - although was only awarded a penny in damages, which certainly did not offset the loss of income he suffered as a result of having one of the leading Art Critics of the day on a mission to destroy him. Although Whistler
was predominantly a painter, he is given much credit for his interior
decoration of the Peacock Room. Peacocks became popular symbols
in Whistler's followers such as Aubrey Beardsley (see Art Nouveau lecture).
He created this interior for his patron Frederick Leyland's London home.
They had a bitter falling out over the room though, and along with the
troubles with Ruskin losing him many commissions in the conservative
environment of late Victorian England, he was financially ruined. He
was declared bankrupt in 1879, but then went on to considerable success
as a painter. His most famous painting, titled "Arrangement in
Grey and Black: Portrait of the Painter's Mother" is more commonly
known as "Whistler's Mother". |
 |
|
The Aesthetic movement was widely parodied at the time, for example by Punch magazine and this amusing teapot. "The Fearful Consequences... of living up to One's Teapot". The British love to laugh at people who take themselves too seriously, and the Aesthetic Movement certainly took itself very seriously! Some suggested online
Aestheticism resources: |
 |
|
Contextual factors to consider:
Some key technical innovations:
Meanwhile, in Fine Art:
|
all
graphics, text and design: copyright retrokat.com 2001-4
References: Much of the above text is from lecture notes prepared by D. Armstrong.
Note: If you personally hold copyright to any images or other content herein
and wish it to be removed or credited,
please email me on kat@retrokat.com
and I'm more than happy to do so.