OVERVIEW

In Japan, Eurasia’s extreme geographic limit, there developed a complex civilization, typically insular, rich in local traditions yet cosmopolitan, capable of assimilating and ‘Japanising’ the contributions and influxes coming from Continental Asia, Insular Asia and Europe. The technical foundations and artistic, ideological and social meanings of Japan’s figurative and decorative arts during the Edo period (1600-1867) and the Meiji era (1868-1912) will be explored and analysed within this cultural and historical framework.

AIMS AND CONTENT

LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main aim of these lessons consists in: (1)  Providing a comprehensive art-historical and cultural perception of the civilization of Japan and of its main developing lines during the proto-modern and modern ages (17th-19th centuries). (2)  Evidencing the most peculiar aesthetic and technical aspects of the Japanese artistic productions, both figurative and decorative. (3)  Focusing on the Asian and European civilization influences on the art productions of Edo-period Japan and, conversely, on the influences of Japanese art of the Meiji era in Europe during the second half of the19th century.

AIMS AND LEARNING OUTCOMES

The main aim of these lessons consists in: (1)  Providing a comprehensive art-historical and cultural perception of the civilization of Japan and of its main developing lines during the proto-modern and modern ages (17th-19th centuries). (2)  Evidencing the most peculiar aesthetic and technical aspects of the Japanese artistic productions, both figurative and decorative. (3)  Focusing on the Asian and European civilization influences on the art productions of Edo-period Japan and, conversely, on the influences of Japanese art of the Meiji era in Europe during the second half of the19th century; (4) Express the topics with clear and correct language, using the appropriate  aesthetic, historical and technical terms.

Students are advised to attend the classes for at least 36 out of 40 hours (18 lessons).

TEACHING METHODS

Forty hours subdivided in twenty lessons (two hours each), carried out with Power Point presentations, with vocal comments and explanations.

Remote teaching: lessons via Microsoft Teams (access code: d8zrlj7).

SYLLABUS/CONTENT

Part One. Introduction to the cultural history of Japan

History of culture and development of ideas and thought in early modern and modern Japan (17th-19th centuries). – Japan and Asia. – Japan and the West, the West and Japan. – Historical profile of the Japanese legislation on cultural properties from the late 19th century until this day.

Part Two. The history of arts in early modern and modern Japan (17th-19th century)

Subjects and topics of the lessons

• Japanese collections in the USA, Europe and Italy, with special regard to the ‘Edoardo Chiossone’ Museum of Oriental Art at Genoa: the collector, the formation of the collections, the foundation of the Chiossone Museum.
• The figurative culture of the city-dwellers (chōnin bunka). Life style and imagery of the bourgeois and of the common people represented in ukiyoe, the art of the “floating world”: (1) Paintings (nikuhitsu ukiyoe); (2) “Brocade prints” (nishikie hanga); (3) Male and female clothing accessories of artistic importance.
• The decorative culture in the Edo period and the Meiji era: arts and techniques in lacquer, porcelain, metal and enamel.

RECOMMENDED READING/BIBLIOGRAPHY

• Donatella Failla, Masterpieces of Japanese art from Edo period to modernisation, Museo d’Arte Orientale ‘Edoardo Chiossone’, Comune di Genova, Silvana Editoriale d’Arte, Milano 2002.

• Donatella Failla, “The Protection of Cultural Properties in Japan. Part One”, Zeitschrift für Japanisches Recht / Journal of Japanese Law, Deutsch-Japanische Juristenvereinigung E.V., Max-Planck-Institut für Privatrecht, 9. Jahrgang / Vol. 9 (2004) Nr. / 18, pp. 67-107.

TEACHERS AND EXAM BOARD

Exam Board

DONATELLA FAILLA (President)

GIACOMO MONTANARI

FABRIZIO BENENTE (Substitute)

LESSONS

LESSONS START

MONDAY 4 OCTOBER 2021

Class schedule

EAST ASIAN ART HISTORY

EXAMS

EXAM DESCRIPTION

Oral exam.

EXAM SESSIONS

Three (3) exam sessions in winter (January and February) and four (4) exam sessions in summer (June, July, and September) will be established. Extra-ordinary exam sessions will not be conceded beyond the periods declared in the public regulations of the Course of studies, except for the students who have not completed university exams within set time period.

ASSESSMENT METHODS

Carried out coherently with the aim of the lessons and the learning outcomes, the oral exam will ascertain the candidate’s ability in

(1) Providing a comprehensive art-historical and cultural view of the artistic civilization of Japan and its main developing lines during the early-modern and modern ages (17th-19th century).

(2) Evidencing the peculiar historical and cultural, aesthetic and technical aspects of the Japanese artistic productions, both figurative and decorative.

(3) Focusing on the influences of the Asian and European civilizations on the art productions of Japan and, conversely, on the influence of Japanese art in Europe during the second half of the19th century.

The candidate’s exam will be evaluated according to the following parameters:

(1) Coherence and consistence in describing the art-historical and socio-cultural contexts;

(2) Capability of critical reasoning on the subject and its topics;

(3) Expository ability and style, proper use of the aesthetic and technical vocabulary concerning the artistic productions.  

Exam schedule

FURTHER INFORMATION

Examination programme

(1) Study of the texts listed above.

(2) Notes taken by students during the lessons, integrated by the recorded lessons in Power Point presentation format and, if needed, by further material made available by the teacher.