Hey, this doesn’t look like my usual Ukiyo-e-inspired stuff... but actually, it kind of is.
This is a redraw of a painting by Berthe Morisot for the current Month of Masters challenge. Morisot was key figure of the Impressionist movement that scandalized the Paris art scene back in the late 1800s.
I’ve always admired the Impressionists not only for their radical approach to light and form, but for how deeply they engaged with new visual languages — particularly the influence of Japonisme, the European fascination with Japanese art and design that reshaped their sense of composition and perspective.
They were obsessed with the Ukiyo-e prints flooding into Europe at the time — captivated by the bold designs and fresh ways of seeing the world of which the Western World had not had access for hundreds of years. You can feel the echo of Japan in their work, and I love that link: artists being inspired by Japanese art then, just like so many continue to be today.
ALSO It’s worth remembering that when photography emerged in the 19th century, many predicted the death of painting. Yet rather than disappearing, artists responded by pushing the boundaries of their medium, ushering in new ways of seeing that shaped modern art. Today, as AI-generated imagery becomes more prevalent, we find ourselves at a similar crossroads — challenged once again to reinvent the role of human creativity.
I believe that art created by humans will still persevere and flourish, but it is a challenge to all of us to understand these rapidly changing times and continue to push the boundaries of art and all that it can do.