Making Modern Japanese-Style Painting: Kano Hogai and the Search for Images

Making Modern Japanese-Style Painting explores the rise of nihonga, the modern Japanese-style painting movement that took shape during the Meiji period. This digital edition is available as a PDF download and can be accessed instantly after purchase.

Written by Chelsea Foxwell, assistant professor of art history at the University of Chicago, the book examines how Japanese painting was redefined for domestic and international audiences.

Book Overview

This study traces the visual characteristics and social functions of nihonga and its relationship to the past, to viewers, and to the emerging modern Japanese state. Foxwell connects Japanese nationalist discourse, government art policy, foreign commentary, and the demands of export.

The career of Kano Hogai is central. Originally a painter for the shogun, Hogai created striking images that sought to satisfy both Japanese and Western viewers. His work shows how nihonga broke with pre-Meiji painting while trying to soften that break.

What You’ll Discover Inside

• How Western discoveries of Japanese paintings at world’s fairs changed international appreciation of Japanese art.
• Why nihonga developed as a traditional alternative to Western artistic conventions.
• Kano Hogai’s transformation from shogunal painter to modern image-maker.
• The role of exhibitions and export markets in shaping Japanese painting.
• The connections between art, nationalism, and government policy in Meiji Japan.
• How audience expectations helped produce a new style of modern Japanese painting.

Why This Book Matters

Making Modern Japanese-Style Painting offers a fresh perspective on Japan’s development as a modern nation through the lens of art. It has been described as scholarly work of the highest order and a significant intervention in art history.

The book received support from the Meiss/Mellon Author’s Book Award of the College Art Association and the Association for Asian Studies First Book Subvention Program.

Book Details

Device Compatibility

This is a digital download. No physical item will be shipped. Access is available immediately after purchase.

The PDF can be read on compatible Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and most reading apps.

FAQ

How soon will I receive the book?
Instant download access is provided after purchase.

Will a physical copy be shipped?
No. This listing is for a digital PDF download only.

Which devices are supported?
The file works with Kindle apps, tablets, desktop computers, mobile devices, and standard PDF reading software.

This digital edition of Making Modern Japanese-Style Painting offers a substantial scholarly introduction to nihonga and Kano Hogai. Download it now and explore the making of modern Japanese-style painting.

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