Japanese classical painting: the most famous names. Traditional Japanese painting and engraving

Monochrome painting of Japan is one of the unique phenomena of Eastern art. A lot of work and research has been devoted to it, but it is often perceived as a very conventional thing, and sometimes even decorative. This is not so. The spiritual world of the Japanese artist is very rich, and he cares not so much about the aesthetic component as about the spiritual one. The art of the East is a synthesis of external and internal, explicit and implicit.

In this post I would like to pay attention not to the history of monochrome painting, but to its essence. This is what we will talk about.

screen "Pines" Hasegawa Tohaku, 1593

What we see in monochrome paintings is the result of the artist’s interaction with the basic triad: paper, brush, ink. Therefore, in order to correctly understand the work, you need to understand the artist himself and his attitude.

"Landscape" Sesshu, 1398

Paper for the Japanese master it is not just a material at hand, which he subordinates to his whim, but rather the opposite - it is a “brother”, and therefore the attitude towards it has developed accordingly. Paper is a part of the surrounding nature, which the Japanese have always treated with reverence and tried not to subjugate, but to coexist peacefully with it. Paper is a tree in the past that stood in a certain area for a certain time, “saw” something around it, and it stores it all. This is how the Japanese artist perceives the material. Often, before starting work, craftsmen looked for a long time at Blank sheet(they contemplated it) and only then began painting. Even now, modern Japanese artists who practice the Nihon-ga technique (traditional Japanese painting) carefully select paper. They buy it to order from paper mills. Each artist has a certain thickness, moisture permeability and texture (many artists even enter into an agreement with the owner of the factory not to sell this paper to other artists) - therefore, each painting is perceived as something unique and alive.

"Reading in a bamboo grove" Xubun, 1446

Speaking about the significance of this material, it is worth mentioning the following famous monuments Japanese literature such as “Notes at the Bedside” by Sei Shonagon and “Genji Monogotari” by Murasaki Shikibu: both in “Notes” and “Genji” you can find plots when courtiers or lovers exchange messages. The paper on which these messages were written was of the appropriate time of year, shade, and the manner of writing the text corresponded to its texture.

"Murasaki Shikibu at Ishiyama Shrine" Kyosen

Brush- the second component is a continuation of the master’s hand (again, this is natural material). Therefore, brushes were also made to order, but most often by the artist himself. He selected the hairs of the required length, chose the size of the brush and the most comfortable handle. The master paints only with his own brush and no other. (From personal experience: I was at a master class by the Chinese artist Jiang Shilun, the audience asked to show what his students who were present at the master class could do, and each of them, picking up the master’s brush, said that the result would not be what they expected, because the brush not them, they are not used to it and do not know how to use it correctly).

"Fuji" ink sketch by Katsushika Hokusai

Mascara- the third important element. Mascara happens different types: it can give a glossy or matte effect after drying, maybe with an admixture of silver or ocher shades, therefore right choice mascara is also not unimportant.

Yamamoto Baitsu, late 18th - 19th centuries.

The main subjects of monochrome painting are landscapes. Why are there no colors in them?

Paired screen "Pines", Hasegawa Tohaku

Firstly, the Japanese artist is not interested in the object itself, but in its essence, a certain component that is common to all living things and leads to harmony between man and nature. Therefore, the image is always a hint; it is addressed to our senses, and not to vision. Understatement is a stimulus for dialogue, and therefore connection. Lines and spots are important in an image - they form artistic language. This is not the liberty of the master, who left a bold mark where he wanted, but in another place, on the contrary, underdrew - everything in the picture has its own meaning and meaning, and is not random.

Secondly, color always carries some kind of emotional connotation and is perceived differently different people in different states, therefore, emotional neutrality allows the viewer to most adequately enter into dialogue, to position him for perception, contemplation, and thought.

Thirdly, this is the interaction of yin and yang; any monochrome painting is harmonious from the point of view of the ratio of ink to the untouched area of ​​paper.

Why is most of the paper space unused?

"Landscape" Xubun, mid-15th century.

Firstly, the empty space immerses the viewer in the image; secondly, the image is created as if it floated to the surface for a moment and is about to disappear - this is connected with worldview and worldview; thirdly, in those areas where there is no ink, the texture and shade of the paper comes to the fore (this is not always visible in reproductions, but in reality it is always the interaction of two materials - paper and ink).

Sesshu, 1446

Why landscape?

"Contemplation of a Waterfall" Gayami, 1478

According to the Japanese worldview, nature is more perfect than man, so he must learn from it, protect it in every possible way, and not destroy or subjugate it. Therefore, in many landscapes you can see small images of people, but they are always insignificant, small in relation to the landscape itself, or images of huts that fit into the space surrounding them and are not even always noticeable - these are all symbols of a worldview.

"Seasons: Autumn and Winter" Sesshu. "Landscape" Sesshu, 1481

In conclusion, I want to say that monochrome Japanese painting is not chaotically splattered ink, it is not a whim of the artist’s inner ego - it is a whole system of images and symbols, it is a repository of philosophical thought, and most importantly, a way of communication and harmonization of oneself and the world around us.

Here, I think, are the answers to the main questions that arise in the viewer when faced with monochrome Japanese painting. I hope they will help you understand it most correctly and perceive it when you meet.

Japanese classical painting has a long and interesting story. The visual arts of Japan are presented in different styles and genres, each of which is unique in its own way. Ancient painted figurines and geometric motifs found on bronze dotaku bells and pottery shards date back to 300 AD.

Buddhist orientation of art

The art of wall painting was quite well developed in Japan; in the 6th century, images on the theme of Buddhist philosophy were especially popular. At that time, large temples were being built in the country, and their walls were everywhere decorated with frescoes painted based on scenes from Buddhist myths and legends. Ancient examples of wall paintings are still preserved in the Horyuji Temple near the Japanese city of Nara. Horyuji murals depict scenes from the life of Buddha and other gods. The artistic style of these frescoes is very close to visual concept, popular in China during the Song Dynasty.

The painting style of the Tang Dynasty acquired especially popular in the middle of the Nara period. The frescoes discovered in the Takamatsuzuka tomb date back to around the 7th century AD from this period. The artistic technique, formed under the influence of the Tang dynasty, subsequently formed the basis of the painting genre of kara-e. This genre maintained its popularity until the appearance of the first works in the Yamato-e style. Most of the frescoes and paintings are by unknown authors; today, many of the works from that period are kept in the Sesoin treasury.

The growing influence of new Buddhist schools such as Tendai influenced the broad religious focus of Japanese fine art in the 8th and 9th centuries. In the 10th century, which saw a special progress in Japanese Buddhism, the genre of raigozu, “welcome paintings” appeared, which depicted the arrival of Buddha in the Western Paradise. Early examples of raigozu, dating back to 1053, can be seen at the Bedo-in Temple, which survives in the city of Uji, Kyoto Prefecture.

Changing styles

In the middle of the Heian period, the Chinese kara-e style was replaced by the Yamato-e genre, which for a long time became one of the most popular and sought-after genres of Japanese painting. The new pictorial style was mainly used in painting folding screens and sliding doors. Over time, yamato-e also moved to horizontal emakimono scrolls. Artists who worked in the emaki genre tried to convey in their works all the emotionality of the chosen plot. The Genji Monogatari Scroll consisted of several episodes strung together, with artists of the time using quick brush strokes and bright, expressive colors.

E-maki is one of the oldest and most prominent examples of otoko-e, a genre of representation. male portraits. Women's portraits are classified as a separate genre, onna-e. Between these genres, in fact, just like between men and women, quite significant differences are visible. The onna-e style is colorfully represented in the design of the Tale of Genji, where the main themes of the drawings are romantic subjects and scenes from court life. Men's otoko-e style is predominantly artistic image historical battles and others important events in the life of the empire.

The classical Japanese art school has become fertile ground for the development and promotion of the ideas of contemporary art in Japan, in which the influence of pop culture and anime can be clearly seen. One of the most famous Japanese artists of our time can be called Takashi Murakami, whose work is dedicated to depicting scenes from Japanese life. post-war period and the concept of maximum fusion fine art and mainstream.

From famous Japanese artists classical school we can name the following.

Tense Xubun

Syubun worked at the beginning of the 15th century, devoting a lot of time to studying the works of Chinese masters of the Song Dynasty, this man stood at the origins of Japanese visual genre. Shubun is considered the founder of the sumi-e style, monochrome ink painting. He made a lot of efforts to popularize the new genre, turning it into one of the leading areas of Japanese painting. Subun's students were many artists who later became famous, including Sesshu and the founder of the famous art school, Kano Masanobu. Many landscapes were attributed to Xubun, but his most famous work is traditionally considered “Reading in a Bamboo Grove.”

Ogata Korin (1658-1716)

Ogata Korin is one of the greatest artists in the history of Japanese painting, the founder and one of the brightest representatives artistic style rimpa. Korine boldly moved away from traditional stereotypes in his works, forming his own own style, the main characteristics of which were small forms and bright impressionism of the plot. Korin is known for his special skill in depicting nature and working with abstract color compositions. “Plum Blossom Red and White” is one of Ogata Korin’s most famous works; his paintings “Chrysanthemums”, “Waves of Matsushima” and a number of others are also known.

Hasegawa Tohaku (1539-1610)

Tohaku is the founder of the Japanese Hasegawa school of art. For early period Tohaku's creativity is characterized by the influence of the famous school of Japanese painting Kano, but over time the artist formed his own unique style. In many ways, Tohaku’s work was influenced by the works of the recognized master Sesshu; Hosegawa even considered himself the fifth successor of this great master. Hasegawa Tohaku's painting "Pines" received world fame, his works “Maple”, “Pines and Flowering Plants” and others are also known.

Kano Eitoku (1543-1590)

The Kano school style dominated the visual arts of Japan for about four centuries, and Kano Eitoku is perhaps one of the most famous and prominent representatives of this art school. Eitoku was favored by the authorities, the patronage of aristocrats and wealthy patrons could not but contribute to the strengthening of his school and the popularity of his works, no doubt very much talented artist. The eight-panel Cypress sliding screen, painted by Eitoku Kano, is a true masterpiece and shining example the scope and power of the Monoyama style. Other works by the master, such as “Birds and Trees of the Four Seasons”, “Chinese Lions”, “Hermits and a Fairy” and many others, look no less interesting.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849)

Hokusai is the greatest master of the ukiyo-e (Japanese woodcut) genre. Hokusai's creativity received global recognition, his fame in other countries is not comparable to that of most Asian artists, his work " A big wave in Kanagawa" has become something of a calling card for Japanese fine art on the world art scene. On your own creative path Hokusai used more than thirty pseudonyms; after sixty, the artist devoted himself entirely to art, and it was this time that is considered the most fruitful period his creativity. Hokusai's works influenced the work of Western masters of impressionism and the post-impressionist period, including the work of Renoir, Monet and van Gogh.

Has very rich history; its tradition is vast, with Japan's unique position in the world greatly influencing the dominant styles and techniques of Japanese artists. Known fact That Japan was quite isolated for many centuries is due not only to geography, but also to the dominant Japanese cultural tendency toward isolation that has marked the country's history. During the centuries of existence of what we might call " Japanese civilization", culture and art developed separately from those in the rest of the world. And this is even noticeable in the practice of Japanese painting. For example, Nihonga paintings are among the main works of Japanese painting practice. It is based on over a thousand years of tradition, and the paintings are usually created with brushes on either vashi (Japanese paper) or egina (silk).

However, Japanese art and painting have been influenced by foreign artistic practices. First, it was Chinese art in the 16th century and Chinese painting and the Chinese art tradition, which was particularly influential in several aspects. As of the 17th century japanese painting was also influenced by Western traditions. In particular, during the pre-war period, which lasted from 1868 to 1945, Japanese painting was influenced by impressionism and European romanticism. At the same time, new European artistic movements were also significantly influenced by Japanese artistic techniques. In art history this influence is called "Japaneseism", and it is especially significant for the Impressionists, Cubists and artists associated with modernism.

Long story Japanese painting can be seen as a synthesis of several traditions that create parts of a recognized Japanese aesthetic. First of all, Buddhist art and painting methods, as well as religious painting, left a significant mark on aesthetics Japanese paintings; water-ink painting of landscapes in the tradition of Chinese literary painting is another important element recognized in many famous Japanese paintings; paintings of animals and plants, especially birds and flowers, are what are commonly associated with Japanese compositions, as are landscapes and scenes from everyday life. Finally, ancient ideas about beauty from philosophy and culture had a great influence on Japanese painting Ancient Japan. Wabi, which means transient and rugged beauty, sabi (the beauty of natural patina and aging), and yugen (deep grace and subtlety) continue to influence ideals in the practice of Japanese painting.

Finally, if we concentrate on selecting the ten most famous Japanese masterpieces, we must mention ukiyo-e, which is one of the most popular genres of art in Japan, even though it belongs to printmaking. He dominated Japanese art from the 17th - 19th centuries, while artists belonging to this genre created woodcuts and paintings with such objects as beautiful girls, Kabuki actors and sumo wrestlers, as well as scenes from history and folk tales, travel scenes and landscapes, flora and fauna and even erotica.

It's always hard to make a list best paintings from artistic traditions. Many amazing works will be excluded; however, this list features ten of the most recognizable Japanese paintings in the world. This article will present only paintings created from the 19th century to the present day.

Japanese painting has an extremely rich history. Over the centuries, Japanese artists have developed a large number of unique techniques and styles that are Japan's most valuable contribution to the world of art. One of these techniques is sumi-e. Sumi-e literally means "ink drawing" and combines calligraphy and ink painting to create a rare beauty of brush-drawn compositions. This beauty is paradoxical - ancient yet modern, simple yet complex, bold yet subdued, undoubtedly reflecting the spiritual basis of art in Zen Buddhism. Buddhist priests introduced solid ink blocks and bamboo brushes to Japan from China in the sixth century, and over the past 14 centuries Japan has developed a rich heritage of ink painting.

Scroll down and see 10 Japanese Painting Masterpieces

1. Katsushika Hokusai “The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife”

One of the most recognizable Japanese paintings is “The Dream of the Fisherman’s Wife.” It was written in 1814 famous artist Hokusai. If you follow strict definitions, this amazing work Hokusai cannot be considered a painting, as it is a woodcut of the ukiyo-e genre from the book Young Pines (Kinoe no Komatsu), which is a three-volume shunga book. The composition depicts a young ama diver entwined sexually with a pair of octopuses. This image was very influential in the 19th and 20th centuries. The work influenced later artists such as Félicien Rops, Auguste Rodin, Louis Aucock, Fernand Knopff and Pablo Picasso.

2. Tessai Tomioka “Abe no Nakamaro writes a nostalgic poem while watching the moon”

Tessai Tomioka is the pseudonym of a famous Japanese artist and calligrapher. He is considered the last major artist in the bunjing tradition and one of the first major artists Nihonga style. Bunjinga was a school of Japanese painting that flourished in the late Edo era among artists who considered themselves literati or intellectuals. Each of these artists, including Tessaya, developed his own style and technique, but they were all big fans of chinese art and culture.

3. Fujishima Takeji “Sunrise over the Eastern Sea”

Fujishima Takeji was a Japanese artist known for his work in developing Romanticism and Impressionism in the yoga (Western style) art movement in late XIX- beginning of the 20th century. In 1905, he traveled to France, where he was influenced by the French movements of the time, particularly Impressionism, as can be seen in his painting Sunrise over the Eastern Sea, which was painted in 1932.

4. Kitagawa Utamaro “Ten types of female faces, a collection of ruling beauties”

Kitagawa Utamaro was a prominent Japanese artist who was born in 1753 and died in 1806. He is certainly best known for a series called "Ten Types female faces. A Collection of Dominant Beauties, Great Love Themes of Classical Poetry" (sometimes called "Women in Love", containing separate engravings "Naked Love" and "Thoughtful Love"). He is one of the most important artists belonging to the ukiyo-e woodcut genre.

5. Kawanabe Kyosai “Tiger”

Kawanabe Kyosai was one of the most famous Japanese artists of the Edo period. His art was influenced by the work of Tohaku, a 16th century Kano school painter who was the only artist of his time, who painted screens entirely in ink on a delicate background of powdered gold. Although Kyosai is known as a cartoonist, he painted some of the most famous paintings in Japanese history art of the 19th century century. "Tiger" is one of those paintings that Kyosai used watercolor and ink to create.

6. Hiroshi Yoshida “Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi”

Hiroshi Yoshida is known as one of the major figures of the Shin-hanga style (Shin-hanga is an artistic movement in Japan in the early 20th century, during the Taisho and Showa periods, which revived the traditional art of ukiyo-e, which had its roots in the Edo and Meiji periods (XVII - XIX centuries)). He trained in the tradition of Western oil painting, which was adopted from Japan during the Meiji period.

7. Takashi Murakami “727”

Takashi Murakami is probably the most popular Japanese artist of our time. His works sell for astronomical prices. major auctions, and creativity is already inspiring new generations of artists not only in Japan, but also abroad. Murakami's art includes whole line environments and is usually described as a superplane. His work is known for his use of color, incorporating motifs from Japanese traditional and popular culture. The content of his paintings is often described as "cute", "psychedelic" or "satirical".

8. Yayoi Kusama “Pumpkin”

Yaoi Kusama is also one of the most famous Japanese artists. She creates in various techniques, including painting, collage, scat sculpture, performance, environmental art and installation, most of which demonstrate her thematic interest in psychedelic colour, repetition and pattern. One of the most famous series this great artist is the Pumpkin series. Covered in a polka dot pattern, a regular pumpkin in bright yellow is presented against a net background. Collectively, all such elements form a visual language that is unmistakably true to the artist's style, and has been developed and refined over decades of painstaking production and reproduction.

9. Tenmyoya Hisashi “Japanese Spirit No. 14”

Tenmyoya Hisashi is a contemporary Japanese artist who is known for his neo-nihonga paintings. He participated in the revival of the old tradition of Japanese painting, which is the complete opposite of modern Japanese painting. In 2000, he also created his new style butouha, which demonstrates a strong attitude towards authority artistic system through his paintings. "Japanese Spirit No. 14" was created as part of artistic scheme"BASARA", interpreted in Japanese culture as the rebellious behavior of the lower aristocracy during the Warring States period to deprive the authorities of the ability to achieve ideal image life, dressing in lush and luxurious clothes and acting out of free will, not in accordance with their social class.

10. Katsushika Hokusai “The Great Wave Off Kanagawa”

Finally, The Great Wave Off Kanagawa is probably the most recognizable Japanese painting ever painted. This is actually the most famous work art created in Japan. It depicts huge waves threatening boats off the coast of Kanagawa Prefecture. Although sometimes mistaken for a tsunami, the wave, as the painting's title suggests, is most likely simply abnormally high. The painting is made in the ukiyo-e tradition.

Each country has its own heroes of 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 art competitions as a child, 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 ancient Japanese tradition painting 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 perfectly mastered the 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 French school Nihon interior design in the field of 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.

Japanese painting is an absolutely unique movement in world art. It has existed since ancient times, but as a tradition it has not lost its popularity and ability to surprise.

Attention to traditions

The East is not only about landscapes, mountains and the rising sun. These are also the people who created his story. It is these people who have supported the tradition of Japanese painting for many centuries, developing and enhancing their art. Those who made a significant contribution to history are Japanese artists. Thanks to them, modern ones have retained all the canons of traditional Japanese painting.

Manner of execution of paintings

Unlike Europe, Japanese artists preferred to paint closer to graphics than to painting. In such paintings you will not find the rough, careless oil strokes that are so characteristic of the Impressionists. What is the graphic nature of such art as Japanese trees, rocks, animals and birds - everything in these paintings is drawn as clearly as possible, with solid and confident ink lines. All objects in the composition must have an outline. Filling inside the outline is usually done with watercolors. The color is washed out, other shades are added, and somewhere the color of the paper is left. Decorativeness is precisely what distinguishes Japanese paintings from the art of the whole world.

Contrasts in painting

Contrast is another characteristic technique used by Japanese artists. This could be a difference in tone, color, or the contrast of warm and cool shades.

The artist resorts to this technique when he wants to highlight some element of the subject. This could be a vein on a plant, a separate petal, or a tree trunk against the sky. Then the light, illuminated part of the object and the shadow under it are depicted (or vice versa).

Transitions and color solutions

When painting Japanese paintings, transitions are often used. They can be different: for example, from one color to another. On the petals of water lilies and peonies you can notice a transition from a light shade to a rich, bright color.

Transitions are also used in the image of the water surface and sky. The smooth transition from sunset to dark, deepening twilight looks very beautiful. When drawing clouds, transitions from different shades and reflexes are also used.

Basic motives of Japanese painting

In art, everything is interconnected with real life, with the feelings and emotions of those involved in it. As in literature, music and other manifestations of creativity, in painting there are several eternal themes. These are historical subjects, images of people and nature.

Japanese landscapes come in many varieties. Often in paintings there are images of ponds - a favorite piece of furniture for the Japanese. A decorative pond, several water lilies and bamboo nearby - this is what a typical picture of the 17th-18th century looks like.

Animals in Japanese painting

Animals are also a frequently recurring element in Asian painting. Traditionally it is a prowling tiger or a domestic cat. In general, Asians are very fond of and therefore their representatives are found in all forms of oriental art.

The world of fauna is another theme that Japanese painting follows. Birds - cranes, decorative parrots, luxurious peacocks, swallows, inconspicuous sparrows and even roosters - all of them are found in the drawings of oriental masters.

Pisces - no less actual topic for Japanese artists. Koi carp are the Japanese version of goldfish. These creatures live in Asia in all ponds, even in small parks and gardens. Koi carp is a kind of tradition that belongs specifically to Japan. These fish symbolize struggle, determination, and achieving your goal. It’s not for nothing that they are depicted floating with the flow, always with decorative wave crests.

Japanese paintings: depiction of people

People in Japanese painting are a special theme. Artists depicted geishas, ​​emperors, warriors and elders.

Geishas are depicted surrounded by flowers, always wearing elaborate robes with many folds and elements.

Sages are depicted sitting or explaining something to their students. The image of the old scientist is a symbol of the history, culture and philosophy of Asia.

The warrior was portrayed as formidable, sometimes terrifying. The long ones were drawn in detail and looked like wire.

Usually all the details of the armor are clarified using ink. Often naked warriors are decorated with tattoos depicting eastern dragon. It is a symbol of Japan's strength and military might.

Rulers were depicted for imperial families. Beautiful clothes and decorations in men’s hair are what such works of art abound in.

Landscapes

Traditional Japanese landscape - mountains. Asian painters have succeeded in depicting a variety of landscapes: they can depict the same peak in different colors, with a different atmosphere. The only thing that remains unchanged is the obligatory presence of flowers. Usually, together with the mountains, the artist depicts some kind of plant in the foreground and draws it in detail. The mountains and cherry blossoms. And if they paint falling petals, the picture evokes admiration for its sad beauty. The contrast in the atmosphere of the picture is another wonderful quality of Japanese culture.

Hieroglyphs

Often the composition of a picture in Japanese painting is combined with writing. The hieroglyphs are arranged so that they look beautiful compositionally. They are usually drawn on the left or right of the painting. Hieroglyphs can represent what is depicted in the painting, its title, or the name of the artist.

Japan is one of the richest countries in history and culture. All over the world, the Japanese are generally considered to be pedantic people who find aesthetics in absolutely all manifestations of life. Therefore, Japanese paintings are always very harmonious in color and tone: if there are splashes of some bright color, it is only in the semantic centers. Using paintings by Asian artists as an example, you can study color theory, correct representation of form using graphics, and composition. The technique of execution of Japanese paintings is so high that it can serve as an example for working with watercolors and performing “washing” of graphic works.