Detail: Aida Yuen Wong
Nathan Cummings and Robert B. and Beatrice C. Mayer Professor, Brandeis University
April 3, 2025; 5:30–7PM
807 Schermerhorn Hall

This talk delves into the philosophical and cultural underpinnings of three Japanese-style gardens in France: Monet's garden in Giverny, Le Parc Oriental in Maulévrier (the largest Japanese garden in Europe), and the Japanese garden at the Albert Kahn Museum in Boulogne-Billancourt near Paris. Constructed during the height of Japonisme, between the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, these gardens draw on the "stroll gardens with ponds" tradition in Japanese landscaping. These tranquil sanctuaries not only reflect the stylistic principles of Japanese garden design but also underscore the cross-cultural exchanges that influenced their creation. The lecture will explore how these gardens serve as a testament to the enduring appeal of Japanese aesthetics and their adaptations within changing French environments.