The Art of Yayoi Kusama: origins, artistic principles, a place in the art of the 20th century

This study explores the issue of Japanese art modernization throughout the XIX–XX centuries, the way how Japanese, Chinese and Western painting styles were mixing and developing by the artists. Moreover, it examines the issue of gender distinctions in painting, artistic practice, and criticism during the modern Japanese history periods. While the majority of women accepted the traditional, male-defined concept of femininity, there were women like Yayoi Kusama who quietly defined their style of «femininity» and anticipated the liberal attitudes and lifestyles of the modern era. Expressions of feminine sensibilities tend to be more apparent in the writings and activities of women artists than in their actual paintings, yet gender distinctions are sometimes visible in the choice of subjects and compositions. The discussion here focuses particularly on images by women and works of Yayoi Kusama, as Japan's most outstanding artist in the modern world. Keywords: Japanese women artists, Nihonga, Bijinga, Gender Distinctions In Art, Yayoi Kusama.