Japanese Wall Art

Japanese wall art has an undeniable and unique serenity spanning the centuries.

Alongside this sits a rich history with deep traditions, resulting in Japan’s distinctive position in the art world. Indeed, artists across the globe have been hugely influenced by the dominant styles and techniques of Japanese artists.

The History of Japonisme Art

Japonisme is a French term from the nineteenth century, referring to the popularity and influence of Japanese art amongst Western European artists.

An example of this influence is Hiroshige, his work creating Japanese woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e, became a source of inspiration for many Western artists.

Hiroshige’s artworks are perfect for any living space, especially the bedroom. The subdued earthly tones bring in warmth without being too loud.

We offer different print sizes, including large wall-art with various framing options, so you can easily customise your new art print to best suit your space.

All of our wall-art is printed on museum quality archival paper, so not only will they look and feel authentic, but archival paper is also of superior quality and designed to last.

These Japanese prints and striking landscape paintings went on to inspire the likes of Vincent van Gogh. This can be seen in Van Gogh’s use of vibrant colours such as yellows and oranges next to shades of blues. Both artists have an elegant timelessness mixed with a graceful simplicity, great for any living space.

Japanese Painting Practices

• Ukiyo-e

Ukiyo-e is one of the most popular Japanese art genres and while it is more printmaking than painting, from the 17th to the 19th century it dominated Japanese wall art. Japanese artist such as Hokusai and Hiroshige produced woodblock prints and paintings from sumo wrestlers and stories of folk tales, to serene landscapes depicting the stunning flora and fauna of Japan.

It was the original use of colour and composition in the ukiyo-e prints and the dramatic foreshortening and asymmetrical compositions, which particularly intrigued the Western artists.

• Nihonga

From around 1900 onwards, Japanese Nihonga paintings formed one of the main forms of Japanese wall art. Nihonga means ‘Japanese painting’ and originated during the Meiji period. Nihonga art is based on traditions over a thousand years old, with paintings on washi (Japanese paper) or eginu (silk).

• Zen Art

Taking a step further back, we encounter Japanese Zen art, which grew around the philosophy of Zen Buddhism from around the 6th to the 16th centuries. Zen Buddhist monks from China introduced the sumi-e style of ink art to Japan. Zen art originally depicted religious figures and monks, but over time, nonspiritual images were painted including bamboo, flowering plums and orchids.
The technique of Sumi-e combines calligraphy and ink-painting and produced beautiful, simple yet complex Japanese wall art. This undoubtedly contributed to Japan’s rich heritage of ink-painting.

Popular Japanese Wall Art

One of the most recognisable Japanese paintings ever is The Great Wave of Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai. As one of the most prominent art pieces produced in Japan, The Great Wave depicts three boats in huge waves, assumed to be a tsunami, with Mount Fuji in the background. It forms part of a series called Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji.

Hokusai’s Great Wave would be a beautiful and playful addition to any bathroom or living space for an extra splash of colour.