Nanban Group 17th century Japan. Public domain image.

The term Nanban art is generally applied to works that were in any way influenced by or connected with the Europeans during this period. Nanban literally means "Southern Barbarian" and was originally derived from the Chinese concept that all foreigners were barbarians in comparison with the enlightened civilization of China. The Europeans reached Japan from the south and were consequently called Southern Barbarians. Of all the forms of Nanban art, paintings occupy the most important place, and the term Nanban-ga refers to Japanese paintings related in some way to Western art. In general Nanban art was produced in Japan under European influence during the century of contact with the West, but by extension the term is also used to designate European works that were imported into the country and influenced the native artists of the period.