ART HISTORY quest. How well did Western artists understand Non-Western art?

Question

Question Details: for one of my classes we have to answer this short answer question, but i seem to be completely lost and confused. please give me some advise to lead me in the right direction! THANKS! "what was the influence of Non-Western cultures on late-nineteenth century art movements. How well Western artist understand Non-Western are? but please tell me, what are some "non-western" cultures and styles or artwork the influenced? THANKS SO MUCH! anything will be a great help!

Answer 1

What do you mean 'did'? I still don't get it.

Van Gogh and his friend Gauguin collected Japanese wood prints that often were used as wrapping paper for Japanese china (no pun intended). They understood it well enough to be influenced by them.

Recognize some manga in their paintings?

Answer 2

They didn't understand it, they propagated it. Picasso didn't invent abstractism, the aboriginals always used it. African artists carved abstract art long before it became tourist trade. Native Americans used kinitic art in their headdresses long before american artist made mobiles. Art historians typically judged non western art as primitive, using their own standards to analyse it. Art can't be analysed from one's own culture unless it is your own culture(who understands the art of their own culture)? The rough horse hair in an African mask is questioned on technique, historians thinking this is not a elite technique. To understand the art of someone else's culture you must leave your cultural standards behind and become one with the universe or with the other culture. This is some thing the anthropologist may better understand. It is scary for some to suspend their own culture. I can say, it is easier if you already have affirmation of your own culture. I am impressed by Natalia Goncharova, the Russian artist who left Russia just before the day of revolution; out spoken she named this issue and resolved like a feminist or multiculturalist during her stay in western europe.