Japonisme appearing in Degas’ works

Edgar Degas, a well-known French painter and sculptor in the late 19^th century, was born in Paris on July 19^th, 1834. During his career, he was considered as one of the Impressionists group even though he himself preferred to be labeled as a Realist or Independent. Like other Impressionists, such as Cassatt, Monet, Manet, and Whistler, Degas also used Japanese principles in creating works of art. He was deeply inspired by Hokusai’s sketches of Manga, especially those that depicted women washing themselves in awkward poses. Later, in the late 1870s, “Hokusai’s vision was echoed in Degas’ favoured themes” (Lambourne, 41); it was found that the study of women bathing appeared to be the main theme in Degas’ works.

“The Tub” (1886) by Edgar Degas

Women at Public Bath from the Manga vol. I, c. 1820 by Katsushika Hokusai

“The Tub” (1886) is an example of Degas’ works that was influenced by Hokusai. Both of Degas’ and Hokusai’s work possess woman/women in an awkwardly pose(s) washing at their toilette. Japanese prints’ principles, such as linear emphasis and strong diagonal perspective also appear in Degas’. In Degas’, the line of the round tub, which starts at the woman’s hairline, joins the strong diagonal line of the shelf. This kind of line is often found in Japanese’s arts in order to suggest that the bottom of the picture represents the nearest view from the viewers and the higher point of the picture indicates the further view from the viewers. Even though these two images have the same theme and devices; however, Degas was not completely copied Hokusai’s Manga; “inspiration was all he took from these prints.” (Walter, 3) In “The Tub”, the view of women bathing is more realistic and its woman’s pose is also lesser bizarre compared to the Hokusai’s. From this example, we understand that Japanese (Eastern) influenced Western art but the Western artists did not apply the exact techniques and styles instead they modified them into their arts.

“Woman in the Tub” (1883) by Edgar Degas

“Woman in the Tub” (1883) is another example of Degas’ works that possess bathing women as a theme. This image is inspired by Japanese artist, Utagawa Kunisada. Both of Degas’ and Kunisada’s works portray woman who is kneeling in a tub and cleaning herself. However, Degas’ figure has more natural pose compared to Kunisada’s. Also, while Degas used more color in his painting, Kunisada used only a very light line drawing.

"Woman in the Tub" (1884) by Edgar Degas

This painting by Degas is another example that shows similar scene, a woman portrayed washing herself; it also has Japonisme influences.

Overall, there are significant relationships between Degas’ works and Japonisme; many of his works are known to have Japanese’s elements. Degas’ study of Japanese arts, including experimenting with unusual visual angles and asymmetrical compositions, led him to recognize “a different and intriguing way of looking at the world” (Art at Loggia, 2).