Monet, Gauguin, van Gogh … Japanese inspirations

More about the book

Japanese art significantly influenced the development of modern art in Europe, captivating renowned masters like Edgar Degas, Édouard Manet, Claude Monet, Paul Gauguin, and Vincent Van Gogh. This fascination, known as Japonisme, persisted into the twentieth century with artists such as Henri Matisse and Pablo Picasso. Museum Folkwang is hosting its first major exhibition in over twenty-five years, dedicated to this intriguing chapter of French art from 1860 to 1910, highlighting the peak of the Japanese art craze in France. The exhibition showcases various artistic dialogues with Japan, featuring major works from prominent artists like Gauguin, Van Gogh, and Monet, alongside an extensive collection of Japanese color woodcut prints by Utagawa Hiroshige, Katsushika Hokusai, and Kitagawa Utamaro. Additionally, Japanese artifacts are displayed alongside works by French artists such as Félix Bracquemond, Jean Carriès, and Émile Gallé, fostering an enriching dialogue. The exhibition is complemented by a comprehensively illustrated catalogue, including essays from established and emerging scholars, which illuminate the key aspects of this formative period and the creative exploration of Japan by artists in France. The exhibition runs from 27 September 2014 to 18 January 2015 at Museum Folkwang, Essen, Germany.