The Ukiyo-e influence:
Ukiyo-e, meaning “pictures of a floating world”, was an art movement that flourished during the Japan Tokugawa movement (1603-1867). Its artworks were very native due to the seclusion policy Japan had adopted to prevent the potential influence of the European expansion. Ukiyo-e is distinct in that it blended many traditional elements of its culture such as the use of picture scroll (emaki) with decorative art. Its earlier works were characterized by screen paintings depicting entertainment districts of Edo, actors from plays, scenes from history and folktales as well as courtesans and well known prostitutes. However, the Ukiyo-e artists quickly transitioned to woodblock print. Besides illustrating entertainers, the artworks also began to depict ordinary people and urban life.
It is influential to the graphic design world because it was the first time other countries, especially countries in the West had a chance to learn about and admire the artworks in Japan. Due to its policy of isolationism, Japan has been developing a style of their own, in which it incorporated many traditional indigenous elements such as emaki. Therefore, as its borders were forced to open up, it introduced the Western artists such as Degas, Van Gogh as well as Henrl Toulouse with many different ideas since the Ukiyo-e style was so distinct and native. It introduced the graphic design world with a new and unprecedented style, and also influenced many European artists into incorporating black contour outlines, flat bright colors as well as flat figures into their own artworks, which are elements of modernism.
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