Japanese Painting

Japanese painting has a long, rich history that exhibits many styles and genres of visual art in each period of time. The heavy exposure to traditional Chinese painting, and later on to foreign western practices as well as its geographical isolation led to Japan recreating a totally original style of paintings that exhibit an amalgamation of native Japanese aesthetics and adoption of foreign artistic practices, which in many ways influenced the styles and techniques of Japanese artists. Bidsquare's online auction is home to impressive collections of the finest Japanese paintings that draw collectors, curators, and dealers from all around the world, and have achieved impressive results in the category. 

Influence of Chinese and Western Paintings 

From the 16th century onwards, Chinese culture and practices had been influencing Japanese painting as it grew out of calligraphy or writing in ink with brushes, eventually creating images with brushstrokes. Some of the earliest works of art include Buddhist religious paintings, depicting the life of figures associated with Buddhism. With the development of Japanese painting, ink-wash painting of a landscape in the Chinese literati painting tradition was recognizable as subjects included ronin samurai, nature, including birds and animals as well as landscape, often shown in an aerial perspective in vertical compositions, and scenes from everyday life. These paintings in simple black ink washes in watercolor were done with curving brushstrokes of varying thickness while being delicate and spontaneous. 

Later on, in the 17th century, Japanese paintings came under the influence of Western traditions, especially Impressionism and European romanticism of the pre-war period (1868-1945). At the same time, uniquely evolved Japanese paintings and aesthetics had a significant influence on the new European art movement, particularly for artists related to Impressionism, Cubism, and Art Nouveau.

Despite the strong influence in many different aspects throughout the country’s history, Japanese painting has maintained an artistic identity unique on its own, as it absorbed and digested them to create a completely original Japanese style. 

Quick Facts about Japanese Paintings

• Most Japanese paintings have their origin in Chinese art.
• Religion plays an important part in many Japanese paintings.