Japanese classical painting: the most famous names. Japanese paintings: all the subtleties of oriental painting

Hokusai, an 18th-century Japanese artist, created a dizzying number artwork. Hokusai worked into old age, invariably asserting that “everything he did before the age of 70 was not worthwhile and not worth attention.”

Perhaps the most famous Japanese artist in the world, he always stood out from his fellow contemporaries for his interest in Everyday life. Instead of depicting glamorous geishas and heroic samurai, Hokusai painted workers, fishermen, and urban genre scenes that were not yet a subject of interest to Japanese art. He also took a European approach to composition.

Here's a short list of key terms to help you navigate Hokusai's work a little.

1 Ukiyo-e are prints and paintings popular in Japan from the 1600s to the 1800s. A movement in Japanese fine art that has developed since the Edo period. This term comes from the word "ukyo", which means "changeable world". Uikiye is a hint at the hedonistic joys of the burgeoning merchant class. In this direction, Hokusai is the most famous artist.

Hokusai used at least thirty pseudonyms throughout his life. Despite the fact that the use of pseudonyms was a common practice among Japanese artists of that time, he significantly exceeded other major authors in the number of pseudonyms. Hokusai's pseudonyms are often used to periodize the stages of his work.

2 The Edo period is the time between 1603 and 1868 in Japanese history, then economic growth and new interest in art and culture were noted.

3 Shunrō is the first of Hokusai's aliases.

4 Shunga literally means "picture of spring" and "spring" is Japanese slang for sex. Thus, these are engravings of an erotic nature. They were created by the most respected artists, including Hokusai.

5 Surimono. The latest “surimono”, as these custom prints were called, were a huge success. Unlike ukiyo-e prints, which were intended for mass audiences, surimono were rarely sold to the general public.

6 Mount Fuji is a symmetrical mountain that happens to be the tallest in Japan. Over the years, it has inspired many artists and poets, including Hokusai, who published the ukiyo-e series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji. This series includes Hokusai's most famous prints.

7 Japonism - the lasting influence that Hokusai had on subsequent generations Western artists. Japonisme is a style inspired by the vibrant colors of ukiyo-e prints, lack of perspective, and compositional experimentation.

Do you love Japanese painting? How much do you know about famous Japanese artists? Let us consider with you in this article the most famous artists Japan who created their works in the ukiyo-e (浮世絵) style. This style of painting developed from the Edo period. The hieroglyphs used to write this style 浮世絵 literally mean “pictures (images) of a changing world”, you can read more about this direction of painting

Hishikawa Moronobu(菱川師宣, 1618-1694). Considered the founder of the ukiyo-e genre, although, in fact, he is only the first master whose life has been preserved biographical information. Moronobu was born into a family of masters in dyeing fabrics and embroidering with gold and silver threads and for a long time was engaged in the family craft, so a distinctive feature of his work is the beautifully decorated clothes of beauties, giving a wonderful artistic effect.

Having moved to Edo, he first studied painting techniques on his own, and then his studies were continued by the artist Kambun.

Mostly Moronobu's albums have reached us, in which he depicts historical and literary subjects and books with kimono patterns. The master also worked in the shunga genre, and among individual works several depicting beautiful women have survived.

(鳥居清長, 1752-1815). Recognized at the end of the 18th century, the master Seki (Sekiguchi) Shinsuke (Ishibei) bore the pseudonym Torii Kiyonaga, which he took upon inheriting Torii's ukiyo-e school from Torii Kiyomitsu after the latter's death.

Kiyonaga was born into the family of bookseller Shirakoya Ishibei. The genre of bijinga brought him the greatest fame, although he began with yakusha-e. Subjects for engravings in the bijinga genre were taken from everyday life: walks, festive processions, trips to nature. Among the artist’s many works, the series “Competitions of fashionable beauties from cheerful quarters”, depicting Minami, one of the “fun quarters” in the south of Edo, “12 portraits of southern beauties”, “10 types of tea shops” stand out. A distinctive feature of the master was the detailed elaboration of the background view and the use of techniques for depicting light and space that came from the West.

Kiyonaga gained initial fame with the 1782 resumption of the series “Fashion Samples: Models New as Spring Leaves,” begun by Koryusai in the 1770s for the publisher Nishimurai Yohachi.

(喜多川歌麿, 1753-1806). This outstanding ukiyo-e master was significantly influenced by Torii Kiyonaga and the publisher Tsutaya Juzaburo. As a result of long-term collaboration with the latter, many albums, books with illustrations and series of engravings were published.

Despite the fact that Utamaro took subjects from the lives of simple artisans and sought to depict nature (“The Book of Insects”), fame came to him as an artist of works dedicated to the geishas of the Yoshiwara quarter (“Yoshiwara Green Houses Yearbook”).

Utamaro reached high level in expression states of mind on paper. For the first time in Japanese woodcuts he began to use bust compositions.

It was Utamaro’s creativity that influenced French impressionists and contributed to European interest in Japanese prints.

(葛飾北斎, 1760-1849). Hokusai's real name is Tokitaro. Probably the most widely known ukiyo-e master around the world. Throughout his career he used over thirty pseudonyms. Historians often use pseudonyms to periodize his work.

At first, Hokusai worked as a carver, whose work was limited by the artist's intentions. This fact weighed heavily on Hokusai, and he began to look for himself as an independent artist.

In 1778, he became an apprentice at the Katsukawa Shunsho studio, which specialized in yakusha-e prints. Hokusai was both talented and very diligent student, who always showed respect to the teacher, and therefore enjoyed the special favor of Shunsho. Thus, the first independent work Hokusai were in the yakusha-e genre in the form of diptychs and triptychs, and the popularity of the student equaled the popularity of the teacher. At this time, the young master had already developed his talent so much that he felt cramped within one school, and after the death of his teacher, Hokusai left the studio and studied the directions of other schools: Kano, Sotatsu (otherwise Koetsu), Rimpa, Tosa.

During this period the artist experiences significant financial difficulties. But at the same time, his formation as a master takes place, who refuses the usual image that society demanded and searches for his own style.

In 1795, illustrations for the poetic anthology “Keka Edo Murasaki” saw the light of day. Then Hokusai painted surimono paintings, which immediately began to become popular, and many artists began to imitate them.

From this period, Tokitaro began to sign his works with the name Hokusai, although some of his works were published under the pseudonyms Tatsumasa, Tokitaro, Kako, Sorobek.

In 1800, the master began to call himself Gakejin Hokusai, which meant “Mad Hokusai of Painting.”

Famous series of illustrations include “36 views of Mount Fuji”, of which the most notable are “Victory Wind. Clear Day" or "Red Fuji" and " A big wave in Kanagawa”, “100 Views of Mount Fuji”, released in three albums, “Hokusai’s Manga” (北斎漫画), which is called “the encyclopedia of the Japanese people”. The artist put into “Manga” all his views on creativity and philosophy. "Manga" is the most important source for studying the life of Japan at that time, as it includes many cultural aspects. A total of twelve issues were published during the artist’s lifetime, and three more after his death:

* 1815 - II, III

* 1817 - VI, VII

* 1849 - XIII (after the death of the artist)

Hokusai's art influenced such European destinations, like Art Nouveau and French Impressionism.

(河鍋暁斎, 1831 -1889). Used the pseudonyms Seisei Kyosai, Shuransai, Baiga Dojin, and studied at the Kano school.

Unlike Hokusai, Kyosai was quite cheeky, which caused his rift with the artist Tsuboyama Tozan. After school he became an independent master, although he sometimes attended school for another five years. At that time he painted kyoga, the so-called “crazy paintings.”

Among the outstanding engraving works are the One Hundred Paintings of Kyosai. As an illustrator, Kyosai creates images for short stories and novels in collaboration with other artists.

At the end of the 19th century, Europeans often visited Japan. The artist was familiar with some of them, and several of his works are now in the British Museum.

(歌川広重, 1797-1858). He worked under the pseudonym Ando Hiroshige (安藤広重) and is known for his subtle rendering of natural motifs and natural phenomena. He painted his first painting, “Mount Fuji in the Snow,” which is now kept in the Suntory Museum in Tokyo at the age of ten. The plots of early works were based on real events taking place on the streets. His famous cycles: “100 Views of Edo”, “36 Views of Mount Fuji”, “53 Tokaido Stations”, “69 Kimokaido Stations”, “100 known species Edo." Monet and the Russian artist Bilibin were greatly influenced by “The 53 Stations of the Tokaido Road,” painted after traveling along the East Coast Road, as well as “100 Views of Edo.” From the series in the kate-ga genre of 25 engravings, the most famous is the sheet “Sparrows over a snow-covered camellia.”

(歌川国貞, also known as Utagawa Toyokuni III (三代歌川豊国)). One of the most prominent ukiyo-e artists.

He paid special attention to kabuki actors and the theater itself - this is about 60% of all works. Also known are works in the bijinga genre and portraits of sumo wrestlers. It is known that he created from 20 to 25 thousand plots, which included 35-40 thousand sheets. He rarely turned to landscapes and warriors. Utagawa Kuniyoshi (歌川 国芳, 1798 - 1861). Born into the family of a silk dyer. Kuniyoshi began learning to draw at the age of ten while living with the Kuninao artist family. He then continued to study with Katsukawa Shun'ei, and at the age of 13 he entered the Tokuyoni workshop to study. The first years young artist things are not going well. But after receiving an order from publisher Kagaya Kichibei for five prints for the 108 Suikoden Heroes series, things started to take off. He creates the rest of the characters in the series and then moves on to others various jobs, and fifteen years later he stands on a par with Utagawa Hiroshige and Utagawa Kunisada.

After the 1842 ban on images theater scenes, actors, geishas and courtesans, Kuniyoshi writes his “cat” series, makes prints from an educational series for housewives and children, depicts national heroes in the “Traditions, Morals and Decency” series, and by the late 1840s - early 1850s after weakening the prohibitions, the artist returns to the theme of kabuki.

(渓斎英泉, 1790-1848). Known for his works in the bijinga genre. In his best works includes portraits of the okubi-e ("big heads") type, which are considered examples of the craftsmanship of the Bunsei era (1818-1830), when the ukiyo-e genre was in decline. The artist painted many lyrical and erotic surimono, as well as a cycle of landscapes “Sixty-nine Stations of Kisokaido”, which he was unable to complete and was completed by Hiroshige.

The novelty in the depiction of bijinga lay in a sensuality that had not previously been seen in other artists. From his works we can understand the fashion of that time. He also published biographies of the Forty-Seven Ronin and wrote several other books, including The History of Ukiyo-e Printings (Ukiyo-e ruiko), containing biographies of artists. And in Notes of a Nameless Elder, he described himself as a depraved drunkard and former owner of a brothel in Nedzu, which burned to the ground in the 1830s.

Suzuki Harunobu (鈴木春信, 1724-1770). The artist's real name is Hozumi Jirobei. He is the discoverer of ukiyo-e polychrome printing. He attended the Kano School and studied painting. Then, under the influence of Shigenaga Nishimura and Torii Kiyomitsu, woodblock printing became his hobby. Prints in two or three colors had been made since the beginning of the 18th century, and Harunobu began painting in ten colors, using three boards and combining three colors - yellow, blue and red.

He excelled in depicting street scenes and paintings in the shunga genre. And from the 1760s, he was one of the first to portray Kabuki actors. His works influenced E. Manet and E. Degas.

(小原古邨, 1877 - 1945). His real name is Matao Ohara. Depicted scenes from the Russo-Japanese and Sino-Japanese wars. However, after the photograph appeared, his work began to sell poorly, and he began to earn a living by teaching at school fine arts in Tokyo. In 1926, Ernest Felloza, curator of Japanese art at the Boston Museum, persuaded Ohara to return to painting, and the artist began depicting birds and flowers, and his work sold well abroad.

(伊藤若冲, 1716 - 1800). He stood out among other artists for his eccentricity and lifestyle, which consisted of friendship with many cultural and religious figures of that time. He depicted animals, flowers and birds in a very exotic form. He was very famous and accepted orders for painting screens and temple paintings.

(鳥居清信, 1664-1729). One of the most important representatives early period ukiyo-e. Despite the great influence of his teacher Hishikawa Monorobu, he became the founder of the yakusha-e genre in the depiction of posters and posters and invented his own style. The actors were depicted in special poses as brave heroes and were painted in
noble Orange color, and the villains were drawn in blue colors. To depict passion, the artist invented a special type of mimizugaki drawing - these are winding lines with alternating thin and thick strokes and combined with a grotesque image of the muscles of the limbs.

Torii Kiyonobu is the founder of the Torii dynasty of artists. His students were Torii Kiyomasu, Torii Kiyoshige I, and Torii Kiyomitsu.

Who is your favorite ukiyo-e artist?

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If you think that all great artists are in the past, then you have no idea how wrong you are. In this article you will learn about the most famous and talented artists of our time. And, believe me, their works will remain in your memory no less deeply than the works of maestros from past eras.

Wojciech Babski

Wojciech Babski is a contemporary Polish artist. He completed his studies at the Silesian Polytechnic Institute, but associated himself with. IN Lately draws mainly women. Focuses on the expression of emotions, strives to obtain the greatest possible effect using simple means.

Loves color, but often uses shades of black and gray to achieve the best impression. Not afraid to experiment with different new techniques. Recently, he has been gaining increasing popularity abroad, mainly in the UK, where he successfully sells his works, which can already be found in many private collections. In addition to art, he is interested in cosmology and philosophy. Listens to jazz. Currently lives and works in Katowice.

Warren Chang

Warren Chang - modern American artist. Born in 1957 and raised in Monterey, California, he graduated with honors from Art Center College of Design in Pasadena in 1981, where he received a BFA. Over the next two decades, he worked as an illustrator for various companies in California and New York before embarking on a career as a professional artist in 2009.

His realistic paintings can be divided into two main categories: biographical interior paintings and paintings depicting people at work. His interest in this style of painting dates back to the work of the 16th century artist Johannes Vermeer, and extends to subjects, self-portraits, portraits of family members, friends, students, studio interiors, classrooms and homes. Its goal is to realistic paintings create mood and emotion through the manipulation of light and the use of muted colors.

Chang became famous after switching to traditional fine arts. Over the past 12 years, he has earned numerous awards and honors, the most prestigious of which is the Master Signature from the Oil Painters of America, the largest oil painting community in the United States. Only one person out of 50 is given the opportunity to receive this award. Warren currently lives in Monterey and works in his studio, and he also teaches (known as a talented teacher) at the San Francisco Academy of Art.

Aurelio Bruni

Aurelio Bruni – Italian artist. Born in Blair, October 15, 1955. He received a diploma in scenography from the Institute of Art in Spoleto. As an artist, he is self-taught, as he independently “built a house of knowledge” on the foundation laid in school. He began painting in oils at the age of 19. Currently lives and works in Umbria.

Bruni's early paintings are rooted in surrealism, but over time he begins to focus on the proximity of lyrical romanticism and symbolism, enhancing this combination with the exquisite sophistication and purity of his characters. Animated and inanimate objects acquire equal dignity and look almost hyper-realistic, but at the same time they do not hide behind a curtain, but allow you to see the essence of your soul. Versatility and sophistication, sensuality and loneliness, thoughtfulness and fruitfulness are the spirit of Aurelio Bruni, nourished by the splendor of art and the harmony of music.

Aleksander Balos

Alkasander Balos is a contemporary Polish artist specializing in oil painting. Born in 1970 in Gliwice, Poland, but since 1989 he has lived and worked in the USA, in Shasta, California.

As a child, he studied art under the guidance of his father Jan, a self-taught artist and sculptor, so he early age, artistic activity received full support from both parents. In 1989, at the age of eighteen, Balos left Poland for the United States, where his school teacher and part-time artist Kathy Gaggliardi encouraged Alkasander to enroll in art school. Balos then received a full scholarship to the University of Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he studied painting with philosophy professor Harry Rozin.

After graduating in 1995 with a bachelor's degree, Balos moved to Chicago to study at the School of Fine Arts, whose methods are based on the work of Jacques-Louis David. Figurative realism and portrait painting were most Balos' works in the 90s and early 2000s. Today, Balos uses the human figure to highlight the characteristics and shortcomings of human existence, without offering any solutions.

The subject compositions of his paintings are intended to be independently interpreted by the viewer, only then will the paintings acquire their true temporal and subjective meaning. In 2005, the artist moved to Northern California, since then the subject matter of his work has expanded significantly and now includes freer painting methods, including abstraction and various multimedia styles that help express ideas and ideals of existence through painting.

Alyssa Monks

Alyssa Monks is a contemporary American artist. Born in 1977, in Ridgewood, New Jersey. I began to be interested in painting when I was still a child. Studied at the New School in New York and State University Montclair and graduated from Boston College in 1999 with a B.A. At the same time, she studied painting at the Lorenzo de' Medici Academy in Florence.

Then she continued her studies in the master's degree program at the New York Academy of Art, in the department of Figurative Art, graduating in 2001. She graduated from Fullerton College in 2006. For some time she lectured at universities and educational institutions throughout the country, she taught painting at the New York Academy of Art, as well as Montclair State University and Lyme Academy of Art College.

“Using filters such as glass, vinyl, water and steam, I distort the human body. These filters allow you to create large areas of abstract design, with islands of color peeking through - parts of the human body.

My paintings change the modern view of the already established, traditional poses and gestures of bathing women. They could tell an attentive viewer a lot about such seemingly self-evident things as the benefits of swimming, dancing, and so on. My characters press themselves against the glass of the shower window, distorting their own bodies, realizing that they thereby influence the notorious male gaze on a naked woman. Thick layers of paint are mixed to imitate glass, steam, water and flesh from afar. However, up close, the amazing physical properties oil paint. By experimenting with layers of paint and color, I find a point where abstract brushstrokes become something else.

When I first started painting the human body, I was immediately fascinated and even obsessed with it and believed that I had to make my paintings as realistic as possible. I “professed” realism until it began to unravel and reveal contradictions in itself. I am now exploring the possibilities and potential of a style of painting where representational painting and abstraction meet – if both styles can coexist at the same moment in time, I will do so.”

Antonio Finelli

Italian artist – “ Time Observer” – Antonio Finelli was born on February 23, 1985. Currently lives and works in Italy between Rome and Campobasso. His works have been exhibited in several galleries in Italy and abroad: Rome, Florence, Novara, Genoa, Palermo, Istanbul, Ankara, New York, and can also be found in private and public collections.

Pencil drawings " Time Observer"Antonio Finelli takes us on an eternal journey through inner world human temporality and the associated scrupulous analysis of this world, the main element of which is the passage through time and the traces it makes on the skin.

Finelli paints portraits of people of any age, gender and nationality, whose facial expressions indicate passage through time, and the artist also hopes to find evidence of the mercilessness of time on the bodies of his characters. Antonio defines his works by one thing, common name: “Self-portrait”, because in his pencil drawings he not only depicts a person, but allows the viewer to contemplate real results the passage of time within a person.

Flaminia Carloni

Flaminia Carloni is a 37-year-old Italian artist, the daughter of a diplomat. She has three children. She lived in Rome for twelve years, and for three years in England and France. She received a degree in art history from the BD School of Art. Then she received a diploma as an art restorer. Before finding her calling and devoting herself entirely to painting, she worked as a journalist, colorist, designer, and actress.

Flaminia's passion for painting arose in childhood. Her main medium is oil because she loves to “coiffer la pate” and also play with the material. She recognized a similar technique in the works of artist Pascal Torua. Flaminia is inspired by great masters of painting such as Balthus, Hopper, and François Legrand, as well as various artistic movements: street art, Chinese realism, surrealism and Renaissance realism. Her favorite artist Caravaggio. Her dream is to discover the therapeutic power of art.

Denis Chernov

Denis Chernov is a talented Ukrainian artist, born in 1978 in Sambir, Lviv region, Ukraine. After graduating from the Kharkov Art School in 1998, he remained in Kharkov, where he currently lives and works. He also studied at the Kharkov State Academy of Design and Arts, Department of Graphic Arts, graduating in 2004.

He regularly participates in art exhibitions, on this moment more than sixty of them took place, both in Ukraine and abroad. Most of Denis Chernov's works are kept in private collections in Ukraine, Russia, Italy, England, Spain, Greece, France, USA, Canada and Japan. Some of the works were sold at Christie's.

Denis works in a wide range of graphic and painting techniques. Pencil drawings are one of his most favorite painting methods, a list of his topics pencil drawings is also very diverse, he paints landscapes, portraits, nudes, genre compositions, book illustrations, literary and historical reconstructions and fantasies.

Every country has its heroes contemporary art, whose names are well-known, whose exhibitions attract crowds of fans and curious people, and whose works are sold to private collections.

In this article we will introduce you to the most popular contemporary artists Japan.

Keiko Tanabe

Born in Kyoto, Keiko won many victories as a child. art competitions, But higher education I didn’t get it in the field of art at all. She worked in the international relations department of a Japanese municipal trade organization in Tokyo, a large law firm in San Francisco and a private consulting firm in San Diego, and traveled extensively. Starting in 2003, she left her job and, having studied the basics of watercolor painting in San Diego, devoted herself exclusively to art.

Ikenaga Yasunari

Japanese artist Ikenaga Yasunari paints portraits modern women in the ancient Japanese painting tradition, using a Menso brush, mineral pigments, carbon black, ink and linen as a base. Its characters are women of our time, but thanks to Nihonga's style, you get the feeling that they came to us from time immemorial.

Abe Toshiyuki

Abe Toshiyuki is a realist artist who has mastered watercolor technique. Abe can be called an artist-philosopher: he fundamentally does not paint famous landmarks, preferring subjective compositions that reflect internal states the person who is watching them.

Hiroko Sakai

The career of artist Hiroko Sakai began in the early 90s in the city of Fukuoka. After graduating from Seinan Gakuin University and the French Nihon School of Interior Design in design and visualization, she founded Atelier Yume-Tsumugi Ltd. and successfully managed this studio for 5 years. Many of her works decorate hospital lobbies, offices of large corporations and some municipal buildings in Japan. After moving to the United States, Hiroko began painting in oils.

Riusuke Fukahori

Riusuki Fukahori's three-dimensional works resemble holograms. They are done acrylic paint, applied in several layers, and a transparent resin liquid - all this, without excluding traditional methods such as drawing shadows, softening edges, controlling transparency, allows Riusuki to create sculptural paintings and gives the works depth and realism.

Natsuki Otani

Natsuki Otani is a talented Japanese illustrator living and working in England.

Makoto Muramatsu

Makoto Muramatsu chose a win-win theme as the basis for his creativity - he draws cats. His pictures are popular all over the world, especially in the form of puzzles.

Tetsuya Mishima

Most of the paintings by contemporary Japanese artist Mishima are done in oils. She has been painting professionally since the 90s, and has had several solo exhibitions and a large number of collective exhibitions, both Japanese and foreign.

Hello, dear readers– seekers of knowledge and truth!

Japanese artists have a unique style, honed by entire generations of masters. Today we will talk about the most prominent representatives of Japanese painting and their paintings, from ancient times to modern times.

Well, let's plunge into the art of the Land of the Rising Sun.

The Birth of Art

The ancient art of painting in Japan is primarily associated with the peculiarities of writing and is therefore built on the foundations of calligraphy. The first samples include fragments of bronze bells, dishes, and household items found during excavations. Many of them were painted with natural paints, and research gives reason to believe that the products were made earlier than 300 BC.

A new round of art development began with the arrival in Japan. Images of deities of the Buddhist pantheon, scenes from the life of the Teacher and his followers were applied to emakimono - special paper scrolls.

The predominance of religious themes in painting can be seen in medieval Japan, namely, from the X to the XV centuries. The names of the artists of that era, alas, have not survived to this day.

In the period of the 15th-18th centuries, a new time began, characterized by the emergence of artists with a developed individual style. They designated the vector further development visual arts.

Bright representatives of the past

Tense Xubun (early 15th century)

In order to become an outstanding master, Xiubun studied the writing techniques of China's Song artists and their works. Subsequently, he became one of the founders of painting in Japan and the creator of sumi-e.

Sumi-e – art style, which is based on drawing with ink, which means one color.

Xubun did a lot to a new style took root in artistic circles. He taught art to other talents, including future famous painters, for example Sesshu.

The most popular painting Syubuna is called “Reading in the Bamboo Grove.”

"Reading in the Bamboo Grove" by Tense Xubun

Hasegawa Tohaku (1539–1610)

He became the creator of a school named after himself - Hasegawa. At first he tried to follow the canons of the Kano school, but gradually his individual “handwriting” began to be traced in his works. Tohaku was guided by Sesshu graphics.

The basis of the works were simple, laconic, but realistic landscapes with simple titles:

• "Pines";
• "Maple";
• "Pine trees and flowering plants."

"Pines" by Hasegawa Tohaku

Brothers Ogata Korin (1658-1716) and Ogata Kenzan (1663-1743)

The brothers were wonderful craftsmen 18th century. The eldest, Ogata Korin, devoted himself entirely to painting and founded the rimpa genre. He avoided stereotypical images, preferring the impressionistic genre.

Ogata Korin painted nature in general and flowers in the form of bright abstractions in particular. His brushes belong to the paintings:

• "Plum blossom red and white";
• "Waves of Matsushima";
• "Chrysanthemums".

"Waves of Matsushima" by Ogata Korin

The younger brother, Ogata Kenzan, had many pseudonyms. Although he was engaged in painting, he was famous more as a wonderful ceramist.

Ogata Kenzan mastered many techniques for creating ceramics. He was distinguished non-standard approach, for example, he created plates in the form of a square.

His own painting was not distinguished by splendor - this was also his peculiarity. He loved to apply scroll-like calligraphy or excerpts from poetry onto his items. Sometimes they worked together with their brother.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)

He created in the style of ukiyo-e - a kind of woodcut, in other words, engraving painting. During his entire career, he changed about 30 names. Famous work– “The Great Wave in Kanagawa”, thanks to which he became famous outside his homeland.

"The Great Wave Off Kanagawa" by Hokusai Katsushika

Hokusai began to work especially hard after the age of 60, which brought good results. Van Gogh, Monet, and Renoir were familiar with his work, and to a certain extent it influenced the work of European masters.

Ando Hiroshige (1791-1858)

One of the greatest artists of the 19th century. He was born, lived, and worked in Edo, continued the work of Hokusai, and was inspired by his works. The way he depicted nature is almost as impressive as the number of works themselves.

Edo is the former name of Tokyo.

Here are some figures about his work, which are represented by a series of paintings:

• 5.5 thousand – the number of all engravings;
• “100 Views of Edo;
• "36 views of Fuji";
• "69 stations of Kisokaido";
• "53 stations of Tokaido."

Painting by Ando Hiroshige

Interestingly, the eminent Van Gogh painted a couple of copies of his engravings.

Modernity

Takashi Murakami

An artist, sculptor, clothing designer, he earned a name already at the end of the 20th century. In his work, he follows fashion trends with classic elements, and draws inspiration from anime and manga cartoons.

Painting by Takashi Murakami

The works of Takashi Murakami are considered a subculture, but at the same time they are incredibly popular. For example, in 2008, one of his works was bought at auction for more than 15 million dollars. At one time, the modern creator worked together with the fashion houses Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton.

Quiet Ashima

A colleague of the previous artist, she creates modern surreal paintings. They depict views of cities, streets of megalopolises and creatures as if from another universe - ghosts, evil spirits, alien girls. In the background of paintings you can often notice pristine, sometimes even frightening nature.

Her paintings reach large sizes and are rarely limited to paper media. They are transferred to leather and plastic materials.

In 2006, as part of an exhibition in the British capital, a woman created about 20 arched structures that reflected the beauty of the nature of the village and city, day and night. One of them decorated a metro station.

Hey Arakawa

The young man cannot be called just an artist in the classical sense of the word - he creates installations that are so popular in the art of the 21st century. The themes of his exhibitions are truly Japanese and touch on friendly relations, as well as work by the whole team.

Hei Arakawa often participates in various biennales, for example in Venice, and exhibits in the museum contemporary art in his homeland, deservedly receives various awards.

Ikenaga Yasunari

The contemporary painter Ikenaga Yasunari managed to combine two seemingly incompatible things: the life of modern girls in portrait form and traditional Japanese techniques from ancient times. In his work, the painter uses special brushes, natural pigmented paints, ink, and charcoal. Instead of the usual linen - linen fabric.

Painting of Ikenaga Yasunari

A similar technique of contrasting the depicted era and appearance The heroines give the impression that they have returned to us from the past.

A series of paintings about the complexities of a crocodile’s life, recently popular in the Internet community, was also created by the Japanese cartoonist Keigo.

Conclusion

So, japanese painting originated around the 3rd century BC, and has changed a lot since then. The first images were applied to ceramics, then Buddhist motifs began to predominate in the arts, but the names of the authors have not survived to this day.

In the modern era, masters of the brush acquired more and more individuality and created different directions and schools. Today's art is not limited to traditional painting - installations, caricatures, artistic sculptures, and special structures are used.

Thank you very much for your attention, dear readers! We hope you found our article useful, and the stories about the life and work of the brightest representatives of art allowed you to get to know them better.

Of course, it is difficult to talk about all the artists from antiquity to the present in one article. Therefore, let this be the first step towards understanding Japanese painting.

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