The lasting impact of Japanese ukiyo-e

ONE of the oldest, most venerated art practices in the world is being celebrated at STPI, Singapore's top contemporary art space.

Ukiyo-e, a type of woodblock printing and painting, flourished in the Edo period of Japan from the 17th to 19th centuries. But its popularity spread far beyond the nation's borders, influencing many important European artists in 19th century Paris including Manet, Monet, Degas, Toulouse- Lautrec and van Gogh.

Many distinguishing features of ukiyo-e - clear outlines, bold fields of colour, asymmetrical perspectives and ordinary subjects - inspired the Europeans to radically re-orientate their perspectives on art, giving rise to the Impressionist movement that marked the start of modern Western art.