Field Journal #5: Ukiyo-e and women

This week's reading was very informative in the development of art nouveau and the origins of the twentieth century design, however what struck me the most was the first two pages introducing ukiyo-e and the women painted in the style of art nouveau.

As I saw the word "ukiyo-e" and the examples of it given in the book, it made me think about my late grandfather's and uncle's house. Although their homes strayed away from the Japanese heritage, these ukiyo-e paintings were the only objects that represented their past history. It was either that, or they were just mere decoration. Philip Meggs states that "This epoch was the final phase of traditional Japanese history; it was a time of economic expansion, internal stability, and flourishing cultural arts," obliterating the fact that the ukiyo-e in their homes weren't just for decoration, but embracing their culture's history even though they've been established in America. This is the painting both homes had hung up, one was hung up in a room the left after entering the home and the other one was hung up in a family room.

http://kiritz.jp/2012/08/maruyama-okyo-great-art-of-drawing-and-simple-painting-style/

Not only is there history behind the art style and colors used in paintings during specific years, but it can help reconnect those that share a similar history, such as myself and ukiyo-e paintings.

In addition to the ukiyo-e paintings, I was intrigued by Jules Cheret's "Palais de Glace, Champs-Elysee," not just for his usage of colors, which is really eye-catching and is still being used today, but more of the concept behind the painting. These women were "not only for the idealized presentation of women in mass media but for a generation of French women who used their dress and apparent lifestyle as inspiration," and "these self-assured, happy women enjoyed life to the fullest..." I'm not sure if this is valid to compare photographs of women today, seeing that everything today is photographed, but in comparison to present day, all the women that I see on advertisements are selling something other than themselves: cars, fitness programs, food, drinks, magazines. It's interesting that the women on images today depict towards something other than themselves, and these French women Cheret painted weren't even super famous or well-known, but lived a happy lifestyle. From being shown because of an inspired lifestyle to being shown not for the person, but for a product or service, is pretty shallow of companies and their advertising.

http://www.1stdibs.com/art/prints-works-on-paper/figurative-prints-works-on-paper/jules-cheret-palais-de-glace/id-a_15581/