The Influence of Japanese Ukiyo Art on Henri Toulouse-Lautrec's Poster Designs in the Context of European art.

Authors : ​Ali Hammouri

Abstract : This research aimed to show The influence of Japanese Ukiyo art on Henri Toulouse-Lautrec poster designs: as part of European art, through selecting and analyzing five artistic poster works for the French artist Henri Toulouse-Lautrec as a case for the study. The researcher used the historical, survey and comparative methodology in his analyzing process, to reach the answer of the study hypothesis. The research sets up six criteria to show the influence of Japanese art on Lautrec works as abstract, simplicity, absence of shade and shadow, the absence of third dimension, flat shapes, bold flat color contrast and vivid flat colors in a newly artistic European style, that have been influenced by the Japanese floating word (Ukiyo-e art). As a result, it is clearly seen as an evidence that the Ukiyo art had a major influence on European art and artists during between 19th century and 20th century. Lautrec particular are enduring these art forms specially on Lautrec Posters Design which he performed in Paris. Researcher noticed a correspondingly sweeping change in Western art Japonisme was seen clearly among Henri Lautrec Posters as a preference for the theme matter, stylishness, and imitating of Japanese art, especially abstract, simplicity, absence of shade and shadow, the absence of third dimension, flat shapes and vivid flat colors in woodblock prints, and a bold flat color contrast, as he also moved toward abstraction to bare bones away of impressionism in his designed poster done in Montmartre area in Paris.

Keywords : Japanese art; Japanese Ukiyo; European art; Poster Design

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