Japonisme is a French term that refers to the popularity and influence of Japanese art and design among a number of Western European artists in the nineteenth century following the forced reopening of foreign trade with Japan in 1858. Japonisme was first described by French art critic and collector Philippe Burty in 1872. Whilst the effects of the trend were likely most pronounced in the visual arts, they extended to architecture, landscaping and gardening, and clothing. Even the performing arts were affected; Gilbert and Sullivan's "The Mikado" is perhaps the best example.
The other week, I had the great privilege of being taken to a private working flower farm, hidden in the heart of the Dandenong Ranges National Park in Silvan on the outskirts of Melbourne. The growers specialise in crocuses, orchids, rare species of plants from South America and California, heirloom peony roses and Japanese Water Irises like this one. These Japanese Water Iris blooms remind me of the ukiyo-e, Japanese woodblock prints that first commenced the Japonisme craze that swept the Western World.
The term "Japanese Iris" encompasses three species of Irises cultivated in gardens or growing wild in Japan: hanashōbu (Iris ensata), kakitsubata (Iris laevigata) and ayame (Iris sanguinea). Of these three species, Iris ensata is the one most commonly referred to as "Japanese iris" outside Japan.
