Final answer:
Nihonga is considered as one of the oldest and most highly refined arts of Japan.
It emerged as a response to Western and Chinese influences and is characterized by well-delineated flat areas of bright color plates, the use of negative space, and the avoidance of realistic rendering of light and shade.
Step-by-step explanation:
Nihonga is a traditional Japanese artistic style that emerged as a response to Western and Chinese influences.
The term 'Nihonga' was coined during the Meiji period to differentiate it from its counterpart, known as Yōga or Western-style painting.
It is characterized by well-delineated flat areas of translucent or opaque, bright color plates, the use of negative space, and the avoidance of realistic rendering of light and shade.
Nihonga artists used traditional materials such as paper or silk for the surface, sumi ink, and mineral and vegetable pigments. The subjects of Nihonga revolve around Japanese mythological and historical themes, native landscapes, and Buddhist iconography.
Overall, Nihonga represents a distinct and enduring tradition of Japanese art that has evolved over centuries.