Interpretation of European realistic painting in the school of Akita Ranga

This bachelor thesis focuses on the european approach to the realistic painting, which can be seen in the works of art of the Akita ranga school during the modern history of Japan. The rise of interest in European sciences, especially medicine, anstronomy and natural history was growing during 18. century. In some parts of Japan can be also seen the rise of interest in new painting techniques. The aim of this study is to show the influences of European painting tradition, which helped painters of Akita ranga to become independent of japanese indigenous traditional conceptions. The other goal of this study is to point to the approach to realism manifested in the bird-and-flower paintings. This thesis consists of three parts. In the first part, there is an explanation of historical and artistic context of the Edo period (1603-1867). The second part describes the origin of the Akita ranga school and the notable persons related to the school, Satake Shozan, Hiraga Gennai and Odano Naotake. The third part focuses on the realistic elements in the paintings of flowers and birds a in their variations - still lifes. In the works of art in the Akita ranga school the still life becomes a genre on its own and thus becomes independent on the traditional conceptions. The Akita ranga "members"having the..