Young Woman with a Japanese Screen c. 1880

Alfred Stevens painted this portrait of a Young Woman with a Japanese Screen sometime in the mid-19th century. It is likely this was painted in Paris, a city whose artistic circles were becoming fascinated by Japanese art. The Japonisme movement, as it was known, was part of a broader cultural exchange. Japanese goods began to appear in European markets, and Japanese aesthetics started to influence art, fashion, and interior design. This painting captures that moment. The woman’s dress, with its floral patterns and soft colors, reflects an interest in Japanese textiles, and of course, there is the Japanese screen itself which is a luxury item intended to create an aura of elegance. To understand this painting better, we would need to look at the history of trade between Europe and Japan, and how Japanese art was displayed and interpreted in European museums and galleries. It’s in these institutional settings that we can best understand the social and cultural impact of this artwork.