Japonisme and the Rise of the Modern Art Movement

From the 1860s through to the early 20th century the rise of Japonisme and the Art Nouveau movement meant that few could ignore or resist the obsession with all things Japanese. Superbly crafted and often highly decorated Japanese objects - lacquer, metalwork, ceramics, enamels and other decorative items - excited, stimulated and inspired Western artists and craftsmen to produce their own works. Arts of the Meiji period (1868-1912) were displayed at international exhibitions, galleries of influential dealers and at fashionable stores in London, Paris and Vienna. This book includes many examples of the superlatively designed and executed decorative arts of the Meiji periods from the Khalili Collection, the greatest collection of Meiji period art in the world. Artists such as Van Gogh, Whistler, Monet, Manet, Klimt and Schiele were all, to varying degrees, influenced by the arts of Japan. Van Gogh said that he owed his inspiration to Japanese art, but even he was probably not aware of just how much art in Europe had already been greatly influenced by that of Japan.

Review: 'A persuasive, sumptuous exploration of Japanese influence on western modernism ... pairings of paintings by Monet, Manet and Degas with Japanese works, and discussions of gold-adorned Klimt and sexy Schiele, are revelatory' - Financial Times (Books of the Year)

'Invaluable for anyone with an interest in late-19th-century European art and culture' - Country Life

'In-depth essays and superb colour illustrations' - Ceramic Review

'If art books were nominated for annual awards ... then 'Japonisme and the Rise of the Modern Art Movement' would definitely be a front-runner in the "most beautiful book category for 2013"' - Art Eyewitness