From Orientalism To Primitivism

Since the second half of 20th century, the topics of Orientalism, Japonisme and Primitivism have moved to the forefront of art-history discussion. The reasons for reassessment of art-history are multifaceted, but it is recognized that Eurocentric methodological foundations of the discipline have proved inadequate for the study of non-Western art tradition. The rediscovery of "oriental" and "primitive" art relates to the reevaluation of language and ideology underlying contemporary art and art-historical practice. Scanning history seriously is the basic point for facing the culture collision today.This thesis is about the following issues: How did western traditional painting in crisis search for fresh energy from exotic civilization to explore new space for resurgence? What rules underlie the initiative choice in the course of Western civilization using non-western civilization for reference?On the base of clarifying the developing process from Orientalism, Japonisme to Primitivism, the author mainly analyzes how exotic factors influenced European painting, both in theme and form, and extends the effect to the level of culture and society for further investigation. The thesis is expected to discover multiplicate motivity at the turning point of European painting from tradition to modern in 19th century, and open out the modes of constructing exotic civilizations. Finally, the thesis comes to a conclusion: European artists utilize exoticism to challenge western traditional aesthetics and society, however, their representation and appropriation of exotic art inevitably relapse into colonialism words system, they could never give up their intrinsic ideology and values.