Art Deco

Art Deco is an artistic art that has design. It started as soon as the movement of beauty started in the 20th century.It began in French at the event that was called the Exposition Internationale des Art Decocrafts et Industriels Modernes by a group of French  decorators, designers and artistd

As a movement it had been influenced also from different areas like interior design, industrial, graphical design, fashion, jewelry and architectural.They also been influenced from visual art in painting, graphic design and film. The world Art Deco came from an exhibition in Paris  that was Les Arnnees - so from that title they came with Art Deco. Now a day can also call it art mondernes. This art  represent  elegance, Functional and modernity. It has liner symmetry with a distinct following in a asymmetrical organic curves, like the Art Nauveau. They had been influenced in the early Twentieth century, from neoclassical, deconstructionism, cubism, modernism and also ancient Egyptian design. There where a lot of art movements that they had decorative designs where inspired also in Art Deco. This movement in thd hae 1980s had been even more important and had also more influence on other different styles.


















Art Movements - Art Deco. 2013. Art Movements - Art Deco. [ONLINE] Available at: http://pinterest.com/thebigmachine/art-movents-art-deco/. [Accessed 21 May 2013].

Abstract Expressionism

This movement had began in the late twentieth century. It was a similar to similar to modernism and post-modernism because it express the feeling of emotion in to the art. Most of the paintings in this movement used to have a sens of abstraction. This art also goes beyond the real view..

In the World War II some artist like Paul Klee and more left Europe and continued in spreading the influence of this movement. Most of all the it affected a lot the American movement, but in the 50s American artist become more important then before and also they where international.

Characteristics: 

• It is usually made with an application of paint with no subject but with an emotion or feeling.
• Dripping, flinging, smearing and slathering techniques with a lot of paint.
• Some times they also make some designs with calligraphy.
• They like to use colors that are intense and bright.

Abstract Expressionism. 2013. Abstract Expressionism. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.olinda.com/Art/Abstract_expressionism/aexpressionism.htm. [Accessed 21 May 2013].

Abstract Expressionism – Art History Basics on Abstract Expressionism - Mid-1940s - Present. 2013. Abstract Expressionism – Art History Basics on Abstract Expressionism - Mid-1940s - Present. [ONLINE] Available at:http://arthistory.about.com/od/modernarthistory/a/abstract_expressionism_10one.htm. [Accessed 21 May 2013].

DADA movement

DADA artist and a literary movement was born in a period of a lot painters, poets and film makers. These began in Zurich  and by time they become as a movement but no the same as the others because some people sad that is an art , and other sad that it is a non art. He as an artist never followed the rules so he. always wanted to experiment. He wanted to shock people and see object and thing in a very unusually way. This is an art that they used to call nonsensical. He used also to use a lot Expressionism and Abstraction , these where his mainly influence then had been followed  with Cubism and later Futurism.



He also used to make mixed media in to different forms in an artistic way. This visual works make this period  more different and unique. All the work that he used to produced used to have a geometric form. He used to make his art from  glass, tapestries and wood work. DADA influenced a lot of different artist mostly in visual arts and Constuctivism.
This movement had disapered when in France the Surrealist arrived.


This is a work of Marchel Duchamp named the ` ready mades`. It is an ordinary object but it is modiveted and turned upside down in to an other function as a fountain. This was made in 1917










Dada Movement, Artists and Major Works | The Art Story. 2013. Dada Movement, Artists and Major Works | The Art Story. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.theartstory.org/movement-dada.htm. [Accessed 21 May 2013].

Art movements – where are they going? | Visual Communication. 2013. Art movements – where are they going? | Visual Communication. [ONLINE] Available at: http://markhoffmannvc.wordpress.com/2013/04/14/art-movements-where-are-they-going/. [Accessed 21 May 2013].

Japanese Buddhist Art

When at first Buddhism entered in Japan, they had already influences trough other cultures.They had from abstract art that where more linear to decorative art of the indigenous.They had also influences from the Korean art during the Kofun periods.

Japan had been the largest country that had discovered Buddhism in the 6 century.This art was combined with religion so they could be more able to express there feelings. They where lucky because Japan was able to save many ideas and aspects trough Buddhism at the same time that in India  was disappearing this movement.

This type of art was mostly popular between the 8th and 13 century, during the Nara, Heian and Kamakura Periods. In Japan they used to make extremely big sculptures and figurative art. They also used to make Buddhist and also some combination 

with Hindu and Shinto influences. As an art it can be very decorative, creative and bold.

Then in after Zen art entered, in China. It characteristics are by there originality upon  there paintings.

Buddhism art is still existing , in Japan till now a day . There are a lot of historical paintings and tramples also.

Buddhist Art - ReligionFacts. 2013. Buddhist Art - ReligionFacts. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.religionfacts.com/buddhism/things/buddhist_art.htm. [Accessed 21 May 2013].

The Great wave - Japanese art

The Artist :  

Hokusai is a Japanese painter and also a wood engraver. He is known for he outstanding work of figures and also printmaking. Also he used to observe and paint direct what he see not only flowers or scenes but also human and nature. People get to know his work because of his different type of work like he didn`t used to paint samurai and geishas so instead he used to paint on wooden-blocks make more emphases on figures.  His work also used to have curved and some parts of spirals as-well.

Description : 

Hokusai had created this painting when he had about seventy years old. This is know at the Museum in Japan.
He came with this idea of painting form his 13- volume of sketchbook, so then he choose one of them that is this painting.

The Painting The Great Wave [the wave of Kanagawa] is one of the most great painting in the movement . It is an art work that is popular around the world. It is showing a big wave that is coming across three fishing boats in a storm and in the horizontal there is the Mount Fuij. It was  made using woodblock print added with color. Like this painting there where a lot of copies and where began sold very cheap. I think that as a painting it shows a brilliant power of nature as the waves movement. It shows a relative combination with small mans on the boat and the height of the boat. 

Movie clip of some description of the painting :



Kinsner: Hokusai's Great Wave. 2013. Kinsner: Hokusai's Great Wave. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.ee.umanitoba.ca/~kinsner/about/gwave.html. [Accessed 20 May 2013].


BBC - A History of the World - Object : Hokusai's 'The Great Wave'. 2013.BBC - A History of the World - Object : Hokusai's 'The Great Wave'. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/MAPlqOEHRsmI1awIHQzRSQ. [Accessed 20 May 2013].

Japanese art Influence on Van Gogh

In the 1862 Japanese art become more and more important than before, Mostly the woodblock prints. These where an inspiration of the post impressionist Monet, Degas, Gauguin and mostly Van Gogh. For Van Gogh the woodcuts where a big influence for him trough Japanese art. Then when he moved to Paris he was introduced  to the impressionism movement so he explored this movement and  Japonism. He used to love then bold designs with that focused colors, also he used to like pure and flat colors and simple lines.

When Van Gogh used to live next to the Bing Gallery and there where Japanese paintings for sale so he used to take a lot of inspiration. He used to go in the gallery and study the paintings and there techniques. Most of this work where ukiyo style so he become a collector of them.

The Hiroshige

He made two copies in the 1887 of  the Hiroshige  landscape,made with print making. One of the print was for the bridge , so he made a copy and made that scene woodcut. Then he filled up the border with the other prints. There was an other print that Van Gogh made was The Courtesan. In this piece he also made a frame with an influence of Japanese art. Most of the difference from the original work to the work of Van Gogh was that he used to make bold and brighter colors. 

The influence trough the work of Van Gogh still shows mostly in the prints, it reflect the culture by the outlines and the use of the black contours in the woodblock prints. It also make an effect  trough the bold colors that he use in his work.

Japonisme, Japonaiserie, Japanese Influence on Van Gogh . 2013.Japonisme, Japonaiserie, Japanese Influence on Van Gogh . [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.vangoghgallery.com/influences/japonisme.html. [Accessed 20 May 2013].

The Influence of Japanese Art on Modern Design – ART NOUVEAU

The Japanese art that was across Europe and America in began they used to produce prints only but in the Western  Japanese art was more developed trough art and paintings. Trough the western art they used to observe the work of the Edo Period of the Japanes art , mostly in modern prints shows this influence.

Félix Bracquemond

One of the top artist was the french impresssionist painter `Félix Bracquemond`. Once he was extraordinated of a set of Hokusai sketches in Paris made with circle of his friends. This work was inspired from Japanese art. More important artist that where inspired from Japanese art where Manet, Pierre Bonnard, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, Mary Cassatt, Degas, Renoir, James McNeill Whistler, Monet, van Gogh, Camille Pissarro, Paul Gaugin, Aubrey Beardsley and Klimt.

Ukiyo Art was also inspired from Japanese art trough the clear lines and flat areas of colours. Impressionism, Art Nouveau and Modernism are also different type of art that where developed from Japanese art.

Art Nouveau

The name Art Nouveau comes form french and it means new art. It is a type of art that incorporate design, art and architecture from the late 19th century. It was spread trough Europe very fast trough photo-illustration, magazines and exhibitions. According to each  country the style name was different and in Europe it was called Modernisime.  This style was focused on a lot of decorative designs. Art Nouveau was a style that had a lot of effective designers and artist who continued in fashion to the modern age.
This style has organic lines and mostly they used dark colors like yellow , dark red, brown, blue and olive. 
The most characteristics that makes this style modern are the symmetrical and undulating lines that they have , mostly made from flowers, insect wings, buds and natural detailed objects. As paintings in this style usually they will be in a very elegant and graceful way. They also combine the creation of natural elements with the lines and symbols.

Art Nouveau Prints :

“Tropon” by Henry van de Velde 

The  Art Nouveau prints in this period are very important , like the Lithograph `Tropon` print made by Henry vande Velde. This shows a lot distinctive colors of this movement like dark green, yellow and orange combined with words. This art shows the new type of art made with curved lines. 

The Peacock Skirt, by Aubrey Beardsley

This is a piece of  painting combined with print in the Art Nouveau style. It is a very popular piece of work and it was printed in posters, advertising  labels and also magazines. It has curved lines made with a lot of flower designs. I think that this work gave a lot of advertisement trough the particular designs and first appeal .








Art Nouveau effected a lot the design and art. Many building and architecture  was produced as well as furniture. They used to have round and elegant lines made with glass wood and metal usually. They used to combine them and make a flowered designs.

After the 1919 this style called it old-fashioned and not artistic so they went to more modern style with a plain designs.


The Influence of Art History on Modern Design – Art Nouveau | Pixel 77. 2013. The Influence of Art History on Modern Design – Art Nouveau | Pixel 77. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.pixel77.com/the-influence-of-art-history-on-modern-design-art-nouveau/. [Accessed 20 May 2013].

The Influence of Art History on Modern Design – Art Nouveau | Pixel 77. 2013. The Influence of Art History on Modern Design – Art Nouveau | Pixel 77. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.pixel77.com/the-influence-of-art-history-on-modern-design-art-nouveau/. [Accessed 20 May 2013].

Japanese Calligraphy

Japanese Calligraphy is called also Shodo. It is a name that is based in a Chinese way and have around seven syllable and it is one of the most popular fine art of Japan.It has this type of name because sho means calligraphy. This type of art is a brilliant type of art to write beautiful. This work usually is made by a bamboo brush, ink and rice paper.  It gives you nice harmony and grace. It is a beautiful type of art trough it simplicity work. It is influenced from the Japanese wabi wabi as a main principle.

It is a very different calligraphy from the others , like the forms and the lines , the way the way they do them. They make a  balance between each point to a line and also the blank space.

They usually make them as a poem based on Chinese while they use Japanese calligraphy. Now a day this calligraphy had expended.

This art is mostly important about the sense of how you apply it not the value of the brush. The value and elegance of the lines that they apply shows how good the work is. In this type of art each line and symbol has a meaning , so he create his own something.

The work usually will transmit a type of sucsess, light , love, pleasure, creativity and any thing that makes a person happy.

This usually we can find them in a class of fighting arts, ceremony ect.. There are also some traditional calligraphy that transfer l be little words. They usually will be written on a white paper which represent emptiness and a black sings  so it will be like a Yin and Yang [man and woman] 

Shodo - Art of Japanese calligraphy. 2013. Shodo - Art of Japanese calligraphy. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.japancalligraphy.eu/. [Accessed 20 May 2013].

Traditional Japanese Calligraphy. 2013. Traditional Japanese Calligraphy. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.takase.com/JapaneseCalligraphy/Traditional.htm. [Accessed 20 May 2013].

Sculpture in Japanese art

Sculpture in Japanese art  is not the earliest form but it is a long lasting art that has the most expressive way that people can express. Unlikely the Japanese island are poor in stone and wood so they couldn't express this art how they wanted because it was limited but they also used to work with clay, dry lacquer and bronze. they used to produce art from all these material the sculptures but they used to work a lot with wood.
The first sculptures  appeared in Japan in the began of 2200 BC. In the Joman period there was twist in the decorations because they began to make cover of clay in pots. In this period most of the work was made with clay and they used to make a lot of figurines so some used to say that they where dolls for children or pictures of Japanese details. Some strange sculpture in this period art the small figures with a hearth shape and a small circuit mouth.

Haniwa- made with clay

After hundred of years they still continued to use traditional material. One that had a lot of followers was the clay cylinders that where called Haniwa. 
This work where used to be made near the Japanese emperors and some important officials.These where used to be covered with dirt and used to be kept form being washed. They where simple shapes and used to be inspired from human or animal forms or even building and houses some times.




One of the most influence that was very important in the sixth century was the Buddhism.This religion began in India and Japan. By this many sculpture in this period had a touch of Japanese feel. These used to use wood, bronze, and gold material. Before they used to make also wooden status from trees. Mostly in this period they never used to use stone.


the art of japan: sculpture: history. 2013. the art of japan: sculpture: history. [ONLINE] Available at:http://library.thinkquest.org/27458/nf/sculpture/history.html. [Accessed 18 May 2013].

Background of the Japanese Art

Japanese Art is known as a decorative art that has a breath of originality and stand for it`s own style. before it was discovered this style there was the Palaeolithic culture . In this style there wasn't any evidence , there was only artifacts of Neolithic people. Japan was occupied by these people until the 19 century.

The Dolmen Period : 
This period had began earlier than the second century as there originality were drove to northward, agriculture and administration. In Korea they found toms and few had been opened. They found bronze swords, mirrors, iron swords and more. Near the most important tombs they made used to make cylinders made with ceramics , and the top they used to have figures of men or animals that reflects Japanese art. During this period they also discovered ideographs and Korean syllabary in Japan. Trough the end of this period  Japan had relations with one of the three kingdoms of korea and by this the first Buddhist reached Japan.

The Asuka Period :548-645
This period is named for the area near Nara were the court introduced Buddhism. It was a new religion that had different ideas, meanings and images. It also incorporate Chinese writing, history, coins and more, these had a very high impact trough society aspects of Japanese.
Till the eighth century there had been changes in the thrones and more taxes had been added to the people form a new emperor. He was a Chinese emperor and by constructing large temples this was the most active period trough the county. The capital city was removed  after 3/4 of a century  and Nara was built and it has an enormous cost.

The Nara Period : 645-793
Before this period there had been a lot of changes every time the capital was moved. So in 710 there was a an emperor that had been there for 77 years. This period there was more peace  in china and there where frequently reactions with Chinese court. Buddhism had influence on the arts, including sculpture, painting, and lacquerware. It was during this period, in 752, that a great bronze image of Buddha was made in the Temple in Nara. It is the largest Buddha statue in Japan. Also during this period they developed new techniques of Japanese art. 


The Heian Period : 794-1184
In the 794 , the capital city was moved to Heiankyo[Kyoto]. In this period fashion had more importance in the new streets. Trough this period there was a lot of peace and the noble people had the chance to experiment more in arts and in there culture because they didn't used to take interest. There where also new ideas in Japan that came mainly from china and become Japanese culture. For the first time writing in Japanese system was legal in the culture , one of them is Tale of Genji and PillowBook , these where the most popular.


The Kamakura Period : 1185-1337
Trough this period there where some influence from the attitude in art . Two of these are a development in Kamukura art, one is developed from old fashioned art and the other from Sung art late in the twelfth century. Here we can see the difference by Unkei style to vivid work trough realism.The last sculpture was made in this period of a school.The Buddhist art also changes there style and become more similar to the Japanese art, they represent naturalistic and divinities art.  They used to make portrait in a very free way that was influenced from Sung art. 
This period had introduced the ceramic work into Japan and one of the most important was Dogen that after was known as Toshiro.



The Muromachi and Momoyama Period : 1336-1598
When the kamakura government fall and changed  for a long time they accepted Muromachi in Kyoto in 1336. He used to build villas like Golden and Silver pavilion, Temples and big garden, which is the most attraction nowadays.This was also a time of new cultures with flower arranging and most of all landscapes landscape gardening.



The Edo Period : 1603-1868
In this period the art work in sculptures used to be repetitive  , with an out standing design like the work of Hidari Jingoro that is in Nikko. In paintings the Kano school continued to be built but it lost the design of originality. Also in this period there was three brothers that used to work in pottery and Lacquer. These used to look trough Honami Koestu.
The furniture in this period was becoming more elaborate with designs and new techniques. They began to use a cast bronze with a Chinese manner. They were taking a lot of influence from European color prints.

After 1868 the Japanese art began to influence Europe and had influence from the Western Impact and the Industrial Revolution.

Japan National Tourism Organization | Plan Your Trip | Essential Info | A Brief History. 2013. Japan National Tourism Organization | Plan Your Trip | Essential Info | A Brief History. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.jnto.go.jp/eng/arrange/essential/overview/history.html. [Accessed 18 May 2013].

Asuka and Nara Periods (538–794) | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 2013. Asuka and Nara Periods (538–794) | Thematic Essay | Heilbrunn Timeline of Art History | The Metropolitan Museum of Art. [ONLINE] Available at:http://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/asna/hd_asna.htm. [Accessed 18 May 2013].