Elegance, lightness and the presence of interior elements that emphasize a sense of style - this is a description of the interior of a room decorated in traditionally Japanese style. It has its own differences. The elegance of the atmosphere can be emphasized by a practical partition - a Japanese screen, invented back in the VIII century. As a rule, the screens were decorated with paintings, emphasizing its belonging to traditional art. And to this day, this object of interior is an indicator of the subtle sense of style of its owner, combining the culture of the modern world and past times.
Varieties of Japanese screens
Screens today have two types: Bebu and Fusuma. Bebu are wooden partitions between rooms that can be moved apart. First of all, they have a practical function, being the eastern analogue of a modern door. The second view, in turn, represents interconnected panels, necessary not only for dividing the room, but also for introducing a feeling of romance into the interior.
Japanese artists from ancient times used screens as an object for creativity. The material for them was thick rice paper, which made the drawing process more convenient. Therefore, Japanese screens have become not only part of the room's furniture, but also an object of inspiration for many artists. Over time, some rules arose among Japanese art, according to which the decoration of paper partitions was made so that they fit most organically into the existing style.
Painting by Japanese masters
Since its inception, Japanese screens have been painted so that the image can be seen entirely from the floor, revealing the plot from left to right. The reverse side was also decorated with drawings, the content of which was very different from the front.
Masters made a Japanese-style screen from an even number of partitions (usually from two to eight), connecting them together. The joints were sealed with a thin layer of paper so that later the artist could proceed with the decoration, working in one horizontal plane. It is thanks to this that the final picture conveys to the observer a sense of the integrity of the composition and the completeness of the transmitted plot.
In the end, Japanese masters covered the finished work with a large number of layers of varnish, in order to ensure the safety of the applied image. Sometimes, over the varnish, some elements of the decor were cut.
Screens in European interior design
In the 19th century, screens were imported from Japan and China to Europe, where the subjects for the image were slightly changed to suit the existing culture. Thus appeared the plotting on paper partitions of plots with the participation of the royal nobility, the court circle, artists and heroes of the warrior. Screens with various flowers, birds and animals were also popular.
During the spread of chinoiserie (passion for Chinese culture and art), screens in Europe gained the greatest popularity and distribution. During this period, the masters in their manufacture achieved great virtuosity.
To the spread of the Empire, the Japanese partition has become an integral attribute in almost every prosperous house in Europe. The combination of a wooden frame and inserts from expensive fabric made the screen a unique element of the interior.
Spread in a modern interior
A new rise in the popularity of oriental motifs in the modern era in the 1900s again made the presence of a screen in the design of rooms an indicator of a subtle sense of style. In addition, the painting on the screen with the advent of a new style has changed and acquired new, unique elements. Other, previously unfamiliar plots, forms and techniques for performing Japanese screens appeared.
The last heyday of the screens came in the Art Deco era. Paper and fabric changed to metal, while plots with flowers and birds changed to geometric shapes and their combinations.
Today, screens, having survived decades of oblivion, are not an indispensable attribute of a modern house. But the Japanese partitions are still finding their admirers because of their practicality and originality. The screen installed in the room carries not only a decorative, but also a practical function, dividing the space and covering some areas of the room from prying eyes. This makes it a useful element in the design of the room, without compromising the thoughtful design.