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How did Japanese art contribute to the Western movement called Japanism?

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The Great Wave off Kanagawa by Katsushika Hokusai shows a towering blue wave threatening boats, with Mount Fuji visible in the background. — Japanese art *The Breaking Wave off Kanagawa*, woodblock colour print by Hokusai, from the series *Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji*, 1826–33.

Japanism was an aesthetic movement in the mid-19th century that emerged in France and England following the opening of Japanese trade with the West. It was driven by the influx of Japanese arts and crafts into Western markets, which allowed Western artists to encounter a previously unknown visual tradition.12

The movement’s primary influence stemmed from the careful study of imported Japanese art, particularly popular ukiyo-e woodblock prints. These works were collected by prominent painters such as Édouard Manet, Edgar Degas, and Claude Monet. Japanese prints contributed several key elements to Western Impressionist painting, including:13

Clarity of line: A departure from traditional Western shading and perspective.14
Spaciousness of composition: A focus on asymmetrical or open arrangements.1
Boldness and flatness: The use of flat areas of color and light, which challenged Western representational norms.1

Additionally, the 1867 Universal Exposition in Paris sparked a brief, ephemeral interest in emulating Japanese interior design and decorative arts. This cross-cultural exchange was a pivotal moment in the history of art, marking the beginning of a sustained dialogue between Japanese and Western visual traditions.12