Asian Art Resource Room

Trade paintings flourishes

Trade paintings are actively produced at the Thirteen Factories in Canton (present-day Guangdong).

Colonization of Indonesia

The Dutch takes over the control of Indonesia from the British.

Colonization of Nepal

Nepal loses the war against the British force of the East India Company.

Colonization of Singapore

Sir Stamford Raffles obtaines Singapore.

The first art school in the Philippines

Damian Domingo founds the first official Philippine art academy with support from the Royal Economic Society.

Colonization of Malay Peninsular

The Anglo-Dutch Treaty places the Malay Peninsula under British control.

George Chinnery at work in China

George Chinnery begins working in Macao (until 1852).

Photography technique introduced in Asia

The practical technology of photography is developed in France and is introduced to Asian countries in the 1840s.

Chinese ports open

After the First Opium War, Treaty of Nanjing opens five Chinese ports, including Shanghai, and cedes Hong Kong to the United Kingdom.

Art academy opens in the Philippines

Academy for Drawing and Painting opens in Manila.

Art school opens in Madras

School of Art and Industry, Madras (present-day Chennai) is established.

Westernization of Nepalese art

Jung Bahadur Rana is appointed as the prime minister of Nepal. He visits the United Kingdom. and stops by other European countries, including France. Baju Macha Chitrakar, a painter, accompanys the Prime Minister and begins painting in Western style using Western materials after returning home. Almost all traditional art schools in Nepal disappear by this time.

Art school opens in Calcutta

School of Industrial Arts opens in Calcutta (present-day Kolkata), which beccomes the Government School of Art, Calcutta in 1864.

Art school opens in Bombay

Sir J. J. School of Art opens in Bombay (present-day Mumbai).

End of the Mughal Empire

The Indian Rebellion (the First War of Independence) breaks out, resulting in the end of the Mughal Empire.

French invasion into Vietnam

France began invading Vietnam.

Colonization of India

The British Raj is established (until 1947).

Western art studio opens in China

Tou-Se-We Art Studio is established in Shanghai, and a Spanish missionary Ferrer teaches the technique of sculpture, painting, and woodcut print.

British Malaya

British Malaya is established.

Art school opens in Lahore

The United Kingdom establishes Mayo School of Arts (present-day National College of Arts) in Lahore as a traditional arts and crafts school.

Korea opens to the world

Treaty of Ganghwa Island is made between the Empire of Japan and the Korean Kingdom of Joseon.

First use of a term “misul” (bijutsu) in Korea

The delegates of Korea to Japan, including Kim Yongwon, Korea Picture Bureau, uses misul (bijutsu).

Colonization of Myanmar

Konbaung Dynasty comes to an end and is annexed to the British Raj.

José Rizal accuses Spanish colonialism in the Philippines

José Rizal publishes Noli Me Tángere (Don’t Touch Me), a novel in which he accuses of the Spanish colonization of the Philippine.
Germany (Berlin) and the Philippines

Colonization of Vietnam

French Indochina is established.

Art school opens in Tokyo

Tokyo Fine Arts School (present-day Tokyo University of the Arts) is established.

Secularization of Mongolian art

Balduugiin Sharav (a.k.a. Marzan Sharav) begins creating not only religious art but also paintings of people’s lives. The artist also created European-style portrait paintings and posters.

Art school opens in Kyoto

Kyoto Prefectural School of Painting (established in 1880) changes its name to the Kyoto City School of Arts and founded the Faculty of Painting and Faculty of Crafts and Design. In 1901, the school again changes its name to the Kyoto City School of Arts and Crafts (present-day Kyoto City University of Arts).

A Vietnamese artist studies in Paris

Le Huy Mien enters the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. After graduating, the artist returned to Hanoi in 1895.

Colonization of Laos

Laos becomes the French colony.

Ceylon Technical College

Ceylon Technical College is established, with Drawing and Design courses.

Varma Print Studio established

Ravi Varma Print Studio is established in Bombay (present-day Mumbai).

Donghak Peasant Revolution

Donghak Peasant Revolution erupts. The leader Chun Bongjun is seen as the origin of the democratization movements in the 1980s, which makes him a popular figure appearing in the works of People’s Art.

Sino‐Japanese War

Sino‐Japanese War (Jul. 25–Apr. 17, 1895)

Abanindranath Tagore studies Mughal paintings

E. B. Havell is appointed the principal of the Government School of Art, Calcutta (present-day Kolkata). He has Abanindranath Tagore study Mughal paintings in his collection.

War for independence in the Philippines

Andres Bonifacio of the Katipunan begins armed uprising, starting the independence revolution against Spain.

The Korean Empire

The Korean Empire is established.

Spanish-American War ends

“The Treaty of Paris” after the Spanish-American War allows the United States to acquire the Philippines islands in return to the 20 million dollars compensation.

Declaration of Independence of the Philippines

Emilio Aguinaldo declares the Independence of the Philippines.

American Philippine War

The United States repudiates the independence of the Philippines and begins colonization under the slogan of “friendly assimilation.” The independence troops led by Aguinaldo open the American–Philippine War (ended in 1902).