Japonisme in Western Painting from Whistler to Matisse (Cambridge Studies in the History of ... Book

I will be the first to admit that I am a complete amateur/newbie when it comes to art history and art critique. My only learning was one art history class in college that went by way too fast and self-education through reading.

I enjoyed this book for the fact that it frequently showed the comparison pictures side by side when claiming influence and similarities. This helped me to see what the author was referring to.

But let us suppose for a minute, contrary to what artists of the time reported and the entire premise of this book, that there was no influence; no Japonisme? Who influenced the Japanese artists to paint and create as they did? What if the style was the next in the evolutionary line in art? What if society in Europe was finally ready for a more "Eastern" take on art? What if the exhibitions of Japanese art finally made it acceptable for the artist to utilize their skills that appeared to be Japonisme because they could finally make money and the public would accept it as art? I think that this is a big piece of any art movement. In the book, it discusses poster art and interior design as slowly becoming recognized as legitimate art forms. Why has it been over 100 years and Manga and Anime are still being questioned as a "legitimate" art form? Lots of questions from the "newbie".

The Apendix writing by Bahr and Murther did help enlighten this reader a little.

Overall, an enjoyable book with a ton of information from a clearly well educated and well researched author on the topic