Vincent van Gogh loved Japanese prints. He started collecting prints for fun, but they ultimately taught him a new way of looking at the world. Discover how Japanese prints changed Vincent’s art for good.
Utagawa Kunisada, The Fourth Month: The First Cuckoo, from the series The Twelve Months triptych, 1884
Breakthrough
Japanese art was hidden from Europe for many years. Overseas trade only got underway when Japan was opened up to the world in 1859. Japanese art and household goods flooded into Europe.
The Japanese prints that entered the Western-European market in the second half of the 19th century were an instant hit with European artists. They were significantly different to what Europe was used to. Especially 'the exotic' and the bright colours were appealing, while the Japanese conception of space opened their eyes. Examples from Japan gave a new direction to the Western artists’ own work.
