I am not going to say a lot about about this Christmas treat post, other than that the very prolific William Merritt Chase, long considered America’s “Best Impressionist,” was also fascinated with Japanese art and motifs. For your enjoyment, I have gathered a large grouping of his paintings which include clear references to Japonisme through props such as prints, fans, kimonos, and screens. In addition to these obvious references, the compositions of these later paintings – with their high horizon lines and uptilted foregrounds – reveal the more significant role Japanese art had on his artistic style.

Hall at Shinnecock, 1893
Child With Prints
The Japanese Book
Japanese Print, c. 1888
The Kimono, 1895
The Blue Kimono, 1898
Spring Flowers, c. 1889
Making her Toilet, 1889
Girl in a Japanese Kimono
Back of a Nude, 1888
Modern Magdalen, 1888
Connoisseur
Weary, aka Who Rang, 1889
Woman in Kimono Holding a Japanese Fan
Enjoy and Merry Christmas!!!!!
Image Credits: Thanks to Pagina Artis for uploading so many of these images into one place!