History of Graphic Design - Asian Paintings: China, Japan, and Vietnam

Asian Paintings: China, Japan, and Vietnam

• The study of graphic design technique and the drawing style in this early-13th-century work of the Chinese painter Ma Lin is revealing. The artist conveys his message by breaking the perspective rules of proportionality. For example, the person in front of the picture is smaller than the person in the back. This is intended to show that the person in the back is of greater importance (perhaps he is a sage or a spiritual teacher), The composition of trees in the form of an X, which is centered on the main character, adds to his significance. These techniques are being used in the modern graphic design.

• This wood print of the 18th century, a graphic work by the Japanese artist Toshusai Sharaku, is a two-dimensional compositional design. Japanese woodblock printing and painting style have influenced the design of modern posters through the works of artists like Toulouse Lautrec.

• This Chinese wall painting of figures in a cortege, in the tomb of Li Xian, during Tang Dynasty in the 7th century uses a simplified composition, together with a particular use of a color scheme in order to create an intended impact. The artist uses two parallel lines created by the composition of soldiers' black boots and red hats and visually connects them by the linear composition of their rifles.

• This Vietnamese woodprint of the village of Dong Ho Painting creates a specific aesthetic impact that can be attributed to its graphic design