When you first said that Japan's influence on modern european art is often overlooked I wanted to disagree, but then I realised that even though it's often talked about, it never appears as one of the main reasons why european art developed the way it did. And it should be! Anyway, amazing video as always, thank you!
I spent my entire childhood in Japan with Van Gogh prints on the wall, influenced by Japan and Japanese art. Thanks much for the video. I love seeing present day anime videos on television and seeing how they visually link up with these traditions.
Lol Van Gogh was a weeb. In all seriousness, the mutual fascination between Japan and the West in the last 200 years is an incredible cultural phenomena that, in my opinion, is not explored enough from an intellectual point of view, taking in account the weight and influence it has now and in the past as well.
That was an extremely well done video, like so many of yours. I especially appreciated that you let some of Van Gogh's pictures linger, didn't just flash through a lot of pictures, second-by-second the way a lot of TH-camrs do.
I'm Japanese. Thank you so much for making this fascinating video! It's really helpful to understand not only the history of art, but also my own country.
It is fascinating to see how much more there is to the individual painting than just the painting itself - the historical context, the thoughts of the artist, the way a painting was influenced by previous works and subsequently went on to influence the next generation of artists. While being familiar with Van Gogh's paintings, this is the first time I have heard about the connection between his work and Japanese Art, and hearing his own thoughts on this connection and seeing the direct references in his work has given me a new perspective on his paintings. So, thank you for that :)
I had heard of the influence that Japanese art had on the Impressionists, but only from your videos did I get the details - including examples of the many paintings. Thank you 🙏
I did a whole term paper Japonisme, the Scottish artist E.A. Hornel and his obsession with Japan. They were the original weebs, pretty fascinating honestly. My favourite Hornel painting is “Woman in Japanese Clothing”, it’s so damn cool.
Thank you! Really good video essay. “Japonisme” as it was called in France was parallel to the obsessions with African art that also found it’s way to Europe around the same time. It would be great for us French people to acknowledge more openly how much our “ French culture” really has been reshaped and transformed for the better by diverse influences and willingness for artists to embrace it. Today the western world frets for it’s culture because of mass migrations…if it could just also appreciate that lots of great new art and culture will be born out all this….
Japonism was a major influence on Fin-de-Siecle Paris, influencing not only the artistic development which emerged during the decadent era but also the standing of Paris as a global, outward-looking city, a factor which was key to the rebuilding of the city under Georges-Eugène Haussmann.
I was just in Amsterdam, I spoke to Dutch people about this They were, to my surprise oblivious. Also, his Japanese influence was not even themed in any way historically. Thank you for making this video.
Very good and informative video. It would be cool to see an exhibition in person that did a similar side-by-side of Van Gogh's paintings and the art he was reproducing like shown in the video.
Meanwhile, I am over here, having strange nostalgic memories that always sit in the back of my head about reading in 1st grade a picture book cartoon encyclopedia about famous artists, and in the Van Gogh section was up front and the center the fact that Van Gogh was inspired deeply by Japanese art, remembering even down to the illustration of a cartoony VG pointing giddily at a woodblock print, and going in a speech bubble "WOW! LOOK AT THOSE *COLORS!* 😃" It just feels amusing how this video seems focused on that fact's obscurity/not a lot of people actually know of that, yet there this info was, in full detail, in a children's books. 😂
So, in a way, Vincent van Gogh and many European Impressionists were the first "otaku" (Japanese for obsessive pop culture geek). I love the great ukiyoe master Hiroshige also and can understand why Van Gogh was drawn to him. He was the Hayao Miyazaki of his time perhaps.
Now I have a completely new perspective, not only on Van Gogh's artworks, but on japanese arts & culture, history and identity. I, too, am a great fan of japanese culture, and this video gave me this feeling of identification with Van Gogh. I was already amazed by his work, but now I think it comes to a more profound and intimate level.
sir i hope you know that your channel is so amazing, everything about your channel your videos is so beautiful, i hope you keep on uploading, i wish you will have many subscribers and views in the future cause you truely deserved it.
There’s a reason body-sized love pillows have origins as the “Dutch Wife”. People say if we brought over historical figures they’d be in culture shock, which would be true but give Van Gogh a month and he’s a disgusting JoJo fan like the rest of us. (Also give him therapy for good reasons)
...die Vielseitigkeit...in der Begabung des Sehens und gesehen werden...in Farbenrotationen...bestimmen den Künstler...in seiner außerordentlichen Besessenheit..seiner Aussagen in bester Ausdrucksweise seiner Weltansichten
Even tormented by his mental illness it seems that somehow the Japanese printings gave him some solace and inspiration. Being myself of Japanese background I particularally enjoy Japanese arts. Maybe because they evoke a world and culture a bit apart from western culture, but still it brings some peace of mind, in my opinion. This belief comforts me thinking Vincent had something which could give him support to keep on going with his wonderful creations.
Japanesm`e its called. It was a Decorative Arts movement. They were produced on bamboo rolls or collapsable wooden slats becoming a banner you could roll, omitting the heavy frame.
I was always intrigued by those beautiful large folding screens..sometimes I wonder if we're making a bit much of a trend that came and went. There was a sprinkling of Japonism`e objects here and there, I don't really think.it was as much an obsession as it was a momentary thing included in the background. Like a snapshot today!
I don't know where you got the notion that the influence of Japanese art (and culture) on 19th century European art is extremely underestimated. It is actually one of the most researched subjects in 19th and 20th century art history, esp. as a subsection of studies on Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Art Nouveau and Expressionism at least on the continent itself. (The same is true of Orientalism.) Major French, German and British museums have repeatedly dedicated great exhibitions to Japonisme and Ukiyo-e. The Van Gogh Museum itself had a large joint exhibition with the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum called "Van Gogh and Japan" just back in 2017/18. They have a couple of short videos on the subject on their youtube channel, too. I'm not trying to dismiss you. I liked your observations and comments. It's just not a very accurate premise.
You’re absolutely right! I did specify that it overlooked in the west, but I should have specified that it’s “overlooked” or “underestimated” in our general understanding of Van Gogh (in terms of a broader public). I believe this influence from Japan should be as relevant as him cutting his ear off, yet people seem to still be surprised by the fact that Van Gogh could have had an influence outside of Europe. That was the point of the video. Thank you for the comment!
History's first weebs, lmao. It is beyond fascinating how we've come full circle now in anime's golden age. And I am saying this as an art student and illustrator in training who is largely inspired by the intricate and lesser known art styles of Japanese manga and anime. I had not expected to see this far reaching of an influence in what I had thought to be (mostly) purely western art. It does make its ardent defenders and purists quite the hypocrites and I can't help but giggle at that.
Anime is doing some really exciting things right now. As an old person who spent my formative years in Postwar Japan growing up on diet of Japanese fairy tales, I’m loving what is happening in Japanese animation. We just finished watching PLUTO, which was spectacular! Halfway through My Daemon which is a Japanese/Thai co-production.
I dont think Van Gogh's obsession with Japanese identity has a much to do with his liberal ideals & openness. Thats reading the present Western (self destructive) value system that you displayed into it. He was an extreme level of genius/talent, despite his illness, whose experience was not fitting in at all within his own environment. Such people change identities dramatically sometimes trying to find themselves & where they fit. Your pov got much applause though im sure
Vincent was passionate about Japanese prints (which has been very common knowledge for decades upon decades) but it's a mistake and disservice to his art, and his other influences, including Dutch art, his contemporaries, Impressionism, and prior generations of artists such as Jean-François Millet, to imply that the influence of Japanese art was the critical ingredient in his art, or that of Manet, etc. Take a look at "The Potato Eaters". Classic Van Gogh, and predating exposure to Japanese prints. The thick brushstrokes are there, and the humble workers as subject matter. And it's a better painting than any of his very conspicuous copies or overly derivative paintings in relation to Japanese prints, which are among his clumsiest and least convincing productions. Yes, he was influenced by the flattened perspective of Japanese prints. But, no, that is not his biggest or most important influence artistically or otherwise. Vincent's main source of inspiration was himself.
When I found out that Japan didn't even really invent the idea of Godzilla but rather made it as a reaction to the success of an American film called "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms," it kind of blew my mind. The plots both involve giant leviathan-type lizard monsters wreaking havoc on cities caused by a nuclear bomb going off in the Pacific. I suppose artists copying the successes of past popular art goes back as old as time itself.
When you first said that Japan's influence on modern european art is often overlooked I wanted to disagree, but then I realised that even though it's often talked about, it never appears as one of the main reasons why european art developed the way it did. And it should be! Anyway, amazing video as always, thank you!
Often also overlooked how Japanese style has to come the nordic minimalism. Once you notice it, it's hard to ignore.
I've been to the Musee D'orsay and they never mentioned it though I could have missef it.
It becomes obvious in Le louvre Abu Dhabi. Amazing museum with Japanese art and then impressionism
I spent my entire childhood in Japan with Van Gogh prints on the wall, influenced by Japan and Japanese art. Thanks much for the video. I love seeing present day anime videos on television and seeing how they visually link up with these traditions.
are you japanese?
Lol Van Gogh was a weeb.
In all seriousness, the mutual fascination between Japan and the West in the last 200 years is an incredible cultural phenomena that, in my opinion, is not explored enough from an intellectual point of view, taking in account the weight and influence it has now and in the past as well.
A Ouiaboo
@@bluesSGL Excellent addition
Just a continuation of chinoserie
A head of his time
fr
That was an extremely well done video, like so many of yours. I especially appreciated that you let some of Van Gogh's pictures linger, didn't just flash through a lot of pictures, second-by-second the way a lot of TH-camrs do.
I'm Japanese. Thank you so much for making this fascinating video! It's really helpful to understand not only the history of art, but also my own country.
It is fascinating to see how much more there is to the individual painting than just the painting itself - the historical context, the thoughts of the artist, the way a painting was influenced by previous works and subsequently went on to influence the next generation of artists. While being familiar with Van Gogh's paintings, this is the first time I have heard about the connection between his work and Japanese Art, and hearing his own thoughts on this connection and seeing the direct references in his work has given me a new perspective on his paintings. So, thank you for that :)
Aww you're welcome Vallis! Thank you for your thoughtful comment!
I had heard of the influence that Japanese art had on the Impressionists, but only from your videos did I get the details - including examples of the many paintings. Thank you 🙏
Van Gogh would totally end up anime-style art if it existed in his time. He just like me fr
Thanks! Just encountered Japonism in a museum yesterday and it got me interested.
Thanks!
I did a whole term paper Japonisme, the Scottish artist E.A. Hornel and his obsession with Japan. They were the original weebs, pretty fascinating honestly. My favourite Hornel painting is “Woman in Japanese Clothing”, it’s so damn cool.
I am currently doing an investigation about Japonisme while studying in Edinburgh and would love to read your term paper on the subject!
Hey, just wanted to say that I greatly admired your content, you're incredible. And I've been completely binging your entire channel!
Thank you! Really good video essay. “Japonisme” as it was called in France was parallel to the obsessions with African art that also found it’s way to Europe around the same time. It would be great for us French people to acknowledge more openly how much our “ French culture” really has been reshaped and transformed for the better by diverse influences and willingness for artists to embrace it. Today the western world frets for it’s culture because of mass migrations…if it could just also appreciate that lots of great new art and culture will be born out all this….
Another brilliant and insightful video--thank you! Vincent was also a great writer. I love him for embracing the Japanese culture and art so deeply.
Japonism was a major influence on Fin-de-Siecle Paris, influencing not only the artistic development which emerged during the decadent era but also the standing of Paris as a global, outward-looking city, a factor which was key to the rebuilding of the city under Georges-Eugène Haussmann.
I was just in Amsterdam, I spoke to Dutch people about this They were, to my surprise oblivious. Also, his Japanese influence was not even themed in any way historically. Thank you for making this video.
The Van Gogh Museum had an exhibition to Van Gogh's fascination with Japanese art in 2018
iirc they have quite a large collection of prints
Samurai Champloo introduced me to Van Gogh's relationship with Japan.
Japanese art of the Edo period was revolutionized by western art , especially the concept of perspective and of street scenes
Very good and informative video. It would be cool to see an exhibition in person that did a similar side-by-side of Van Gogh's paintings and the art he was reproducing like shown in the video.
Meanwhile, I am over here, having strange nostalgic memories that always sit in the back of my head about reading in 1st grade a picture book cartoon encyclopedia about famous artists, and in the Van Gogh section was up front and the center the fact that Van Gogh was inspired deeply by Japanese art, remembering even down to the illustration of a cartoony VG pointing giddily at a woodblock print, and going in a speech bubble "WOW! LOOK AT THOSE *COLORS!* 😃"
It just feels amusing how this video seems focused on that fact's obscurity/not a lot of people actually know of that, yet there this info was, in full detail, in a children's books. 😂
Thank you. This insight provides quite a gift. I’m a photographer. But these are the artists are my muses
4:47 This quote really struck me.
So, in a way, Vincent van Gogh and many European Impressionists were the first "otaku" (Japanese for obsessive pop culture geek). I love the great ukiyoe master Hiroshige also and can understand why Van Gogh was drawn to him. He was the Hayao Miyazaki of his time perhaps.
Thankyou, great video. I have some Hiroshige prints on my walls and I am very fond of them.
Wow, both surprising and fascinating
I haven't been able to watch your videos in a while, but I'm glad that I have whole bunch to catch up on in one go :)
Now I have a completely new perspective, not only on Van Gogh's artworks, but on japanese arts & culture, history and identity. I, too, am a great fan of japanese culture, and this video gave me this feeling of identification with Van Gogh. I was already amazed by his work, but now I think it comes to a more profound and intimate level.
GOD BLESS YOU THANKS FOR THIS INCREDIBLE VIDEO -Gustavo, Brazil
sir i hope you know that your channel is so amazing, everything about your channel your videos is so beautiful,
i hope you keep on uploading, i wish you will have many subscribers and views in the future cause you truely deserved it.
Van ‘weeb’ Gogh
I wanted to title the video "Was Van Gogh a weeb?", but decided otherwise haha
There’s a reason body-sized love pillows have origins as the “Dutch Wife”. People say if we brought over historical figures they’d be in culture shock, which would be true but give Van Gogh a month and he’s a disgusting JoJo fan like the rest of us. (Also give him therapy for good reasons)
Don’t get him to read Stone Ocean chapters 103 to 110, really won’t go well for the timeline.
Great video, keep it up👍
Thanks Victor!
nice to see we can find -weebs- skillful artists expired by foreign art no matter the time period
...die Vielseitigkeit...in der Begabung des Sehens und gesehen werden...in Farbenrotationen...bestimmen den Künstler...in seiner außerordentlichen Besessenheit..seiner Aussagen in bester Ausdrucksweise seiner Weltansichten
Welch...Raffinesse
I believe, at 4:56, he is referring to Andrew Claude de la Cherois Crommelin.
Even tormented by his mental illness it seems that somehow the Japanese printings gave him some solace and inspiration. Being myself of Japanese background I particularally enjoy Japanese arts. Maybe because they evoke a world and culture a bit apart from western culture, but still it brings some peace of mind, in my opinion. This belief comforts me thinking Vincent had something which could give him support to keep on going with his wonderful creations.
Awesome thanks
Japanesm`e its called. It was a Decorative Arts movement. They were produced on bamboo rolls or collapsable wooden slats becoming a banner you could roll, omitting the heavy frame.
I was always intrigued by those beautiful large folding screens..sometimes I wonder if we're making a bit much of a trend that came and went. There was a sprinkling of Japonism`e objects here and there, I don't really think.it was as much an obsession as it was a momentary thing included in the background. Like a snapshot today!
The first time i heard of this was from the show samurai champloo lol
Im currently watching it, is the story the same as in the anime?
excelente explicacion!
Hang Van Gogh's painting at Japan Expo.
This painting of Matisse 2:40!
Van gogh walked so that oli London could run
Yes Van Gogh idealized Japan, but if you know much about the man you know that he idealized and romanticized almost everything.
Only way dude could cope with reality lol
Well said, only clumsy compared to realism at this point one should get a camera.
I don't know where you got the notion that the influence of Japanese art (and culture) on 19th century European art is extremely underestimated. It is actually one of the most researched subjects in 19th and 20th century art history, esp. as a subsection of studies on Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, Art Nouveau and Expressionism at least on the continent itself. (The same is true of Orientalism.) Major French, German and British museums have repeatedly dedicated great exhibitions to Japonisme and Ukiyo-e. The Van Gogh Museum itself had a large joint exhibition with the Tokyo Metropolitan Art Museum called "Van Gogh and Japan" just back in 2017/18. They have a couple of short videos on the subject on their youtube channel, too. I'm not trying to dismiss you. I liked your observations and comments. It's just not a very accurate premise.
You’re absolutely right! I did specify that it overlooked in the west, but I should have specified that it’s “overlooked” or “underestimated” in our general understanding of Van Gogh (in terms of a broader public). I believe this influence from Japan should be as relevant as him cutting his ear off, yet people seem to still be surprised by the fact that Van Gogh could have had an influence outside of Europe. That was the point of the video.
Thank you for the comment!
he looks so much like Jonathan Blow in that portrait holy shit
High as shi rn this shi heat 🎉
He was a dutch painter.
The first loner inserting himsef into a japanese oc
*WEEABOO SKILLS POINTS*
So Van Gogh would be a major weeb nowadays
I only wish he had shown some effort in prononciation of Japanese names just as he did with French names
So I have something more in common with Van Gogh, we are both diehard weebs
What a weeb he was. Totally can’t relate WDYM? (Hides JoJo merch, anime/JRPG artbooks including a Japanese version of Persona 5’s)
History's first weebs, lmao.
It is beyond fascinating how we've come full circle now in anime's golden age.
And I am saying this as an art student and illustrator in training who is largely inspired by the intricate and lesser known art styles of Japanese manga and anime.
I had not expected to see this far reaching of an influence in what I had thought to be (mostly) purely western art. It does make its ardent defenders and purists quite the hypocrites and I can't help but giggle at that.
Anime is doing some really exciting things right now. As an old person who spent my formative years in Postwar Japan growing up on diet of Japanese fairy tales, I’m loving what is happening in Japanese animation. We just finished watching PLUTO, which was spectacular! Halfway through My Daemon which is a Japanese/Thai co-production.
if van goch become sucess , he will probaly visit japan
🎨🖌👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏
van gogh is the first weeb
Van Gogh: the most beautiful weaboo
I dont think Van Gogh's obsession with Japanese identity has a much to do with his liberal ideals & openness. Thats reading the present Western (self destructive) value system that you displayed into it. He was an extreme level of genius/talent, despite his illness, whose experience was not fitting in at all within his own environment. Such people change identities dramatically sometimes trying to find themselves & where they fit. Your pov got much applause though im sure
Van Go away
first weeb ever
A head of his time
💙👍
the first weeb.
All my art gods are white. And, they all worship black, brown, and gold. ( We all adore each other’s works. Learn from them. Inspiration. )
Vincent was passionate about Japanese prints (which has been very common knowledge for decades upon decades) but it's a mistake and disservice to his art, and his other influences, including Dutch art, his contemporaries, Impressionism, and prior generations of artists such as Jean-François Millet, to imply that the influence of Japanese art was the critical ingredient in his art, or that of Manet, etc. Take a look at "The Potato Eaters". Classic Van Gogh, and predating exposure to Japanese prints. The thick brushstrokes are there, and the humble workers as subject matter. And it's a better painting than any of his very conspicuous copies or overly derivative paintings in relation to Japanese prints, which are among his clumsiest and least convincing productions. Yes, he was influenced by the flattened perspective of Japanese prints. But, no, that is not his biggest or most important influence artistically or otherwise. Vincent's main source of inspiration was himself.
.
When I found out that Japan didn't even really invent the idea of Godzilla but rather made it as a reaction to the success of an American film called "The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms," it kind of blew my mind. The plots both involve giant leviathan-type lizard monsters wreaking havoc on cities caused by a nuclear bomb going off in the Pacific. I suppose artists copying the successes of past popular art goes back as old as time itself.
ngl the reproductions of the japanese prints were waaaayyy worse than the original
How dare he! Cancel her right nowwww!
no thanks for the influence on Modern art though
WEEEEEEEEB
so van gogh was a weeaboo with an anime oc?
Sooo van gogh was a weeb