Nihonga basically refers to "paintings created using traditional Japanese painting materials and techniques.
In a narrower sense, it can refer to paintings of the Kano, Tosa, Rim, and Nanga schools from the Edo period onward.
The term (concept) "nihonga" (Japanese-style painting) was not coined until the Meiji period (1868-1912).
When oil paintings were imported from the West during the Meiji period (1868-1912), the term "nihonga" (Japanese-style painting), which had been produced in Japan, was born as a counterpart to "Western-style painting.
With the introduction of Western painting techniques, many Japanese paintings were created after the Meiji period (1868-1912), which adopted Western painting techniques while preserving the traditional style.
Birth of Japanese-style painting
From the late Heian to Kamakura periods, ink and wash paintings known as "Chinese painting" and Zen paintings were introduced from China.
From this period, what had been called "Karae" (Chinese painting) became collectively known as "Yamato-e" (Japanese painting) and "Waga" (Japanese painting).
In the Muromachi period (1333-1573), the Kano school, the largest painting school in the history of Japanese painting, was born.
This school, which was influenced by Chinese painting but also incorporated the techniques of Yamato-e, developed and remained active for as long as 400 years, until the end of the Edo period.
Another famous school that emerged at the time was the Rimpa school. The Rimpa school developed a free style of painting. Many innovative yet delicate works have been left behind.
The Birth of Japanese Painting from the Edo Period to the Meiji Period
The Tosa school, which originated as a school of Yamato-e, declined for a time with the rise of the Kano school, but flourished again in the Edo period.
With the importation of Western paintings in the Meiji period (1868-1912), Chinese and Japanese paintings that had been produced in Japan until then came to be collectively referred to as Nihonga (Japanese-style painting). By this time, more and more painters were incorporating Western techniques into traditional Japanese painting methods, and Japanese-style painting had greatly developed.
Characteristics of painting materials
It is characterized by the use of many natural materials.
Glue (nikawawa) is used as an adhesive to glue the paint to the screen, and iwa-enogu, finely ground natural minerals, is used to make the paint, which is then applied to Japanese paper, which is famous for its excellent durability.
High-grade materials such as gold and silver leaf are also often used.
Other painting materials include sumi ink and gofun, which is made from crushed seashells.
Gohun is characterized as a white paint.
In addition, paints are not only made from minerals, but sometimes pigments extracted from plants are used to dye gofun to produce green or other colors.
Five Famous Japanese Paintings
Hasegawa Tohaku "Pine Trees" (Azuchi-Momoyama period)
Hasegawa Tohaku boldly depicts the casual atmosphere of a pine forest shrouded in mist with a brush that is brisk and fast, while at the same time achieving a quiet and profound expression that the viewer can perceive as either a state of Zen or a state of wabi.
Kano Eitoku "Chinese Lion" (Momoyama - Edo period)
This is a representative work of Eitoku Kano, one of the most famous artists of the Kano School. It is a powerful depiction of a lion strutting majestically. It is one of the works that symbolize the Momoyama culture.
Okyo Maruyama "Snowy Pine Tree" (Edo period)
Snow, a symbol of freshness, is depicted on a pine tree, which is evergreen and symbolizes celebration of longevity and good fortune. The addition of the air's divinity, expressed in gold paint, creates a scene of a fresh winter morning.
Hayami Mishu, "Flame Dance" (1952)
It is said that Mifune built a bonfire every night and sketched moths that gathered around the bonfire, or that he collected moths and sketched them indoors.
His sketches of the moths are still preserved today.
Kaii Higashiyama "Green Resonance" (1982)
Kaii loved Nagano Prefecture, with its beautiful seasonal changes and varied topography of mountains, lakes, rivers, and valleys, so much so that he called it "the hometown that nurtured my work. The lush landscape of Shinshu was an inspiration for Kaii Higashiyama.
Encountering Japanese Painting at TRiCERA ART
Silver Lotus by Toshiyuki Yamazaki
W 24.00cm x H 24.00cm / ¥40,000
Florescent by Muriel Napoli
W 80.00cm x H 120.00cm / ¥499,700
IN SILENCE by Yusuke Morita
W 60.60cm x H 50.00cm / ¥130,000
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