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Early Encounters in Art & Design
Between Japan & the Western World
Historians mark the “introduction” of Japanese art and design to Western
society as occurring in the 1850s – 1860s. Until that point Japan had
essentially been shut off from the rest of the world and Japanese culture was
largely unknown of in the West. It was in the 1850s that objects of Japanese
art and design were “discovered” and from that moment began to make an
impact on Western aesthetics. It is also recognised that until 1867 Japan had
continued to exist as a feudal, “medieval” state. This aspect is important in
understanding the Japanese influence on Gothic Revivalism, and on
Western Neo-Gothic artists, craftspeople, designers and architects, from the
nineteenth century onwards.
However, it was, too, at this time that the West began to influence
Japan. As the West opened their eyes to Japan, Japan opened up to the
West. The intention of this section, therefore, is to demonstrate that this
history is also Japan’s history and, as such, it also provides a background for
the evolution of Japanese Gothic.
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