japonisme: it was fascination, i know

30 August 2008

it was fascination, i know

we've talked endlessly about the west's fascination with japanese prints, and some about the inverse. but only very little about the world's fascination with the world's fascination with japanese prints. and the fascination with the people fascinated with the western posters produced by those fascinated with the japanese prints. if you get what i mean.

the woodblock prints are featured in many of william merritt chase's prints that have been featured here; in keeping with the contemporary vogue for Japonisme, Chase adopted Japanese props. He often tilted the picture plane and cropped the composition, devices common to Japanese prints. 1

and note the delight and thoughtfulness with which these viewers are depicted.







we've also met robert blum. this piece was likely painted while he was in japan. is she viewing degas or utamaro?

and on the right, self paints self viewing self. in another costume?

click on the image to be transported to another realm.

i wish i could tell exactly what is being looked at in these images. in most of them, you can if the print or poster is eastern or western, but in how many of them are the creators showing their own work being viewed?

is this poster being viewed a third known image by otto fischer?

Leonnec was to Rene Vincent what Gene Vincent was to Elvis--a gifted emulator, lacking the emotive depth and range of the great one, but offering works of unique, very effective quirkiness. Whereas Rene Vincent could charm with a cosmopolitan dash, Leonnec mined the humor and poignancy of a rustic France coming up against the modern world. 2

i think it's pretty clear manuel robbe had his viewers viewing themselves. or each other. he has many images similar to these; sometimes the women are poring over pieces of music or picture books. was it possible for them to look at prints of themselves looking at prints?

the spa- nish and the po- lish lov- ed the japanese.

the germans loved the italians and the french loved, well, the french. and we all know tissot's love of those loving the japanese.

and therefore, what we have here is your fascination watching my fascination with artists whose fascination with prints drove them to create images of people fascinated with images of... themselves?

so what else is new?

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10 Comments:

Blogger Margaret said...

Lol. I loved the ending of your post, so true! (What a great collection of images in this post, by the way. Just lovely).

30 August, 2008 12:47  
Blogger lotusgreen said...

thanks margaret.

each post is like a journey without a map; i never really know where i'll end up.

thanks for getting it. :^)

30 August, 2008 15:26  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dearest Lotus,

Still at it I see (and I am ever so grateful !!) especially from one who seeks constancy and stability.

I have looked and looked and looked for that lovely woodblock print - and have found NOTHING !! I did discover a note that I had made saying 'Hiro' - right. That really narrows things down for me .... ha!

I will start teaching in one more week .... nervous and excited.

And i'm blogging again. But in a more impersonal way because of my 'public servant' status.

I do hope to see you. And yes, I'm still feisty. Maybe my images and words chosen at edges of light will still reveal parts of me ...

xxx
lb

30 August, 2008 19:51  
Blogger lotusgreen said...

oh! so glad to hear from you--i had unsuccessfuly tried to find you!

what a tremulous, exciting moment in your life. you'll do so well!

30 August, 2008 20:18  
Blogger here today, gone tomorrow said...

I remain fascinated. By all of it.

31 August, 2008 07:01  
Blogger Tess Kincaid said...

Oh, this is a fabulous post! I thoroughly enjoyed this. It also brought to mind Monet's painting of his wife in Japanese dress. Do you know which one I mean? I saw it in Chicago at the exhibit some years ago.

Thanks for stopping by Willow Manor! I'm so glad we connected.

Willow x o

31 August, 2008 09:57  
Blogger lotusgreen said...

thank you willow--and welcome! i'm glad we connected too.

and you mean the one in the japonisme timeline, which i really do intend to add to! someday!

31 August, 2008 13:40  
Blogger lotusgreen said...

and lotuslynn -- thank you

31 August, 2008 13:59  
Blogger Tess Kincaid said...

Yes, that's the one! It's huge and so amazing in person.

31 August, 2008 15:20  
Blogger lotusgreen said...

it must be such a cool experience!

31 August, 2008 17:09  

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