The Painting of the Japanese Nihonga School: Transformation of Style in the Second Half of the 20th Century

The paper provides an overview of the development of the nihonga style, which integrates elements of traditional Japanese painting, and examines its transformation during the second half of the 20th century. It explores the preconditions for the emergence of the style, the origin of the term nihonga within the geopolitical context of Japan's historical evolution, as well as the shifts in the figurative paradigm, coloristic choices, and compositional approaches within works of this artistic movement. The article specifically highlights the bijinga genre as a case study. Additionally, it underscores the pivotal role of traditional Japanese painting techniques in shaping the identity of nihonga art.