ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the contemporary reception of Monet’s La Japonaise, discussing issues surrounding cultural appropriation, authenticity, and the role of the museum in mediating cultural experiences. The contrasting responses in Japan and the United States highlight how external factors can shape the public perception of an artwork on museum display and how they can influence the public reaction to the historical legacy of Japonisme. Monet’s painting was received favorably in Japan as an exemplar of Japonisme, boosting contemporary Japan’s national cultural pride. At the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, however, special events for museum visitors to wear the robes based on Monet’s painted kimono triggered a public outcry, with the protesters condemning the museum for perpetuating yellowface mockery against Asians.
