What is nihango?

Nihango refers to a style of Japanese painting that emerged during the Meiji period (1868-1912) as a response to the opening of Japan to the Western world. It is characterized by bold, expressive brushwork, strong use of colors, and simplified compositions that often depict natural scenery, mythological or historical subjects, and landscapes.

The term nihango literally means "Japanese style," and it was used to differentiate this new style of painting from the traditional Yamato-e style that had dominated Japanese art for centuries.

Some of the pioneers of the nihango movement were artists such as Hashimoto Gahō, Kawai Gyokudō, and Shimomura Kanzan, who studied in Western painting techniques and incorporated them into their work in a distinctive Japanese way.

Today, nihango continues to be a vibrant and evolving art form, with many contemporary artists following in the footsteps of its pioneers and creating new and innovative works that bridge the gap between East and West.