Une histoire de l’art japonais en 1883. L’œil de Louis Gonse

Abstract

A History of Japanese Art, as seen through Louis Gonse’s Eye. The late 19th century in France was marked by the introduction of several thousands of objects of Japanese origin. Numerous private collections came into being at this time ; numerous books and articles were published on this subject. But a decisive step was made in the knowledge of Japanese art, in 1883, when the historian and art critic, Louis Gonse decided to publish (in collaboration with the Japanese) a first scientific work on the history of Japanese art : L’art japonais. This publication marked a clear rupture with earlier works — mainly, descriptions of travelers and ornamental grammar books — because it placed the accent on the « japonité » of the Japanese, and, also, because the author challenged the ethnocentric behavior and prejudice of his Western contemporaries, vis-à-vis, Japanese art. Thanks to Louis Gonse, in the West, Japanese objects of art were granted a highly honorable status. L’art japonais, which may seem, today, wholly obsolete, is an extremely interesting publication that allows the reader to understand what, during the 1880’s, was the image that the West projected on Japanese art, as well as the Japanese of ancient Japan, such as the Japan of Meiji.