The influence of Japanese art and cultural artefacts on nineteenth century artists and its availability in the French artworld

Art historians are still working to uncover more information on one of the most prominent figures associated with the promotion of Japanese art, art dealer Siegfried Bing. His work has been the subject of several journal entries. I have explored ways that Japanese art had been promoted in nineteenth century Paris. I looked back to the earliest example of Japan’s participation in the Paris Universal Exposition in 1867. Art dealers Siegfried Bing and Hayashi Tadamasa played significant roles in developing and supporting an interest over the newly available Japanese art. They both promoted the work of Japanese artists that produced woodblock prints that were known as ukiyo-e prints. They highlighted the artwork in their shops in Paris, they organized exhibitions, networked within a circle of collectors in Paris, and worked internationally to expand the market. The popularity of Japanese art was advanced by the diligent efforts of these two figures, it was reinforced by their advertising and networking. These two art dealers were at the forefront of the movement that came to be known as Japonisme