Synopses & Reviews
Presented here are some of the worldandrsquo;s finest examples of Japanese art and design, from the Samurai and Edo periods up to high-tech contemporary design. The VandA has acquired Japanese objects since its earliest years and played a significant role in bringing the art of Japan to the attention of designers, manufacturers, and the public. This tradition continues today and this new book, fully updated and revised, showcases the VandAandrsquo;s unparalleled collection. Ten chapters focus on subjects such as religion and ritual; military and aristocratic culture; the samurai; the highly aestheticized tea ceremony; Ukiyo-e and the graphic arts of the Edo period; and exchanges with the West and imperialism, right up to contemporary crafts and design.
Review
"Covers the prehistoric period through Japan today and seeks to capture the essence of Japanese culture, which embraces balance, harmony, humor, and human imperfection. [Stanley-Baker] aims to communicate the sense of union between the art and the artist, as well as the ability of Japanese art and culture to absorb the ideas and influences of other cultures into its own." Protoview
Synopsis
"A long-needed presentation of Japanese art that concisely offers inclusive coverage from prehistoric times to the twentieth century." --
Synopsis
The uniqueness of Japanese culture rests on the fact that, throughout its history, Japan has continually taken, adapted, and transformed diverse influences--whether from Korea, China, and the South Seas, or Europe and America--into distinct traditions of its own. This book, an authoritative and provocative survey of the arts of Japan from the prehistoric period to the present, brings together the results of the most recent research on the subject. In this expanded and updated edition, a new chapter explores Japanese art from the 1980s to the new millennium. Profusely illustrated with examples from a range of arts as well as an extensive bibliography, is a concise, thought-provoking overview of a fascinating culture.
About the Author
Joan Stanley-Baker is Emeritus Professor of Art History at Tainan National University of Arts, Taiwan, and is the author of several books on Japanese and Chinese art.