Japonisme: East Meets West 

Woodblock prints, golden koi, and a rather spectacular cultural obsession. Welcome to Japonisme, where Japanese artistry turned the Western art world delightfully upside down.

What do Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh, and a contemporary British goldsmith have in common? A fascination with Japanese art, its extraordinary craftsmanship, and its wonderfully distinctive approach to beauty.

In this episode of Carats & Canvases, DACE explores the captivating phenomenon of Japonisme, the wave of enthusiasm for Japanese art and aesthetics that swept through Europe during the second half of the 19th century and left an indelible mark on Western painting, design, and decorative arts.

From the elegant compositions of ukiyo-e woodblock prints to the asymmetry, natural motifs, and exquisite attention to detail that challenged European artistic conventions, we discover how Japanese visual culture helped reshape the language of modern art.

But the story doesn't end with the Impressionists.

Enter Castro Smith, a contemporary British goldsmith whose extraordinary hand-engraved creations demonstrate how Japanese artistic traditions continue to inspire jewelry design today. Drawing upon the intricate techniques and expressive possibilities of engraving, Smith transforms precious metals into miniature works of art, where delicate natural forms, symbolic imagery, and masterful craftsmanship take centre stage.

Along the way, we explore the fascinating relationship between cultural exchange and artistic innovation, the enduring appeal of Japanese aesthetics, and the ways traditional techniques can find new life in contemporary creations.

Because sometimes the most revolutionary artistic ideas arrive from halfway across the world — and leave their mark in gold.

Join DACE for a journey through Japanese art, European artistic fascination, and the exceptional craftsmanship of Castro Smith, where centuries-old traditions meet contemporary creativity and every engraved detail tells a story.