From a decorative view, Japanese paintings are full of mesmerizing Asian charm.
Although, this can also be a confusing subject for novices that want to learn more about it. Different painting styles and schools, a variety of media, the deep roots in Zen Buddhism, and the use of specific terms from the Japanese language can make this art form difficult for Westerners to access.
One should know that Japanese painting has always been torn between three mainstream movements: …show more content…
Newly founded universities established departments for Western art, called Western academic artists into the country as teachers, and sent out students to study art in Europe.
Together with rising nationalism, the pendulum soon swung back into the other direction. The public opinion began to recognize the magnificence of the old tradition.
The twentieth century is when cooperation took place, with art colleges offering both departments in Japanese and Western painting styles.
Over the years, many different schools and painting styles were developed.
The term for painting in black ink is called suibokuga. This style was adopted from China and was significantly influenced by Zen Buddhism. Ink painting gained a more Japanese style of its own during the 15th century.
The Kano School of Painting was established by Kano Masanobu (1453-1490) and his son Kano Motonobu (1476-1559). It was commenced when there was a protest against the Chinese ink painting technique in black. The Kano school put bright colors to use and set forth daring compositions with large flat areas, which later dominated the ukiyo-e