Ukiyo-E
by Gian Carlo Calza
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Book Summary Information
Author: Gian Carlo CalzaContributor: John T. Carpenter
Contributor: Muto Junko
Contributor: Naito Masato
Contributor: Timon Screech
Contributor: Asano Shugo
Contributor: Kobayashi Tadashi
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2007-06-05
ISBN: 0714847941
Number of pages: 520
Publisher: Phaidon Press
Book Reviews of Ukiyo-E
Book Review: Incorrect text in book.
Summary: 2 Stars
A couple of people wrote that there is not much text in this book. Well, thank God for small mercies because the little bit of text in the book is wrong. So much for the person who described the writing as "erudite." I'm not sure how it can be erudite when it isn't even minimally factual.
I flipped through this book for 5 minutes in a used bookstore and found a major mistake in it. That is kind of pathetic considering that I am not an expert or collector of woodblock prints. The book has a couple of pictures by Kitagawa Utamaro that it has mislabeled. Utamaro clearly labeled the pictures as Takashima Ohisa. They are of her front and back. She is wearing muted black, yellow, and green. Well, the "erudite" authors or editors of this book labeled these woodblocks as 'Nanbaya Okita,' who is another girl that Utamaro made paintings of. I have seen the prints that they confused these prints with. Those prints are similar in that they show the front and back of a girl but she is holding a teacup instead of a fan and as I recall, the colors are more bold blue and red, I think. Clearly, people who do not read Japanese fluently worked on this book. That is a shame. Considering the correct name is actually written on the print in Japanese by the artist, it is hard to accept the mislabel. A second or third grader in Japan can read the kanji for 'taka' and 'shima' and a kindergartner can read 'ohisa' in hiragana. Maybe the editors should have gotten some Japanese elementary school children to help them edit the book? Perhaps, then they would not have made such an obvious error? It is hard for me to trust the text in the rest of the book.
Summary of Ukiyo-E
In this impressive study, Gian Carlo Calza examines images of the floating world (ukiyo-e) found in paintings, screens, illustrated books and, above all, the numerous woodblock prints that nineteenth-century French artists were to find so influential. Through six essays and six catalogue sections this book provides a fascinating and thorough introduction to the very best works of this period. The essays supply detailed background information on the history, techniques and development of ukiyo-e and the plate section has been arranged to reflect the six great themes of the floating world - theatre, tradition, nature, landscape, town life and feminine beauty - developed by the artists to satisfy the demands and tastes of their customers. Within each section, works have been arranged in chronological order and according to the various schools. These remarkable images illustrate the tastes, habits and passions of the people of Edo: fashionable scenes set in the nightless city of Yoshiwara, festive excursions to admire cherry blossoms or maple leaves, parties in sailing boats and firework displays. A great number are, in fact, precious posters promoting kabuki actors and performances. Almost as theatrical, courtesans and geisha were also an important part of life and art in Edo, and ukiyo-e artists interpreted them as the ultimate symbol of female beauty and elegance. In addition to illustrating feminine beauty, almost all the artists of the floating world created erotic works (shunga), since their popularity provided an important part of the artists' income. Included here are many great masterpieces, such as Utamaro's exquisite Pillow Book. Ultimately, the art of the floating world not only met the tastes and passions of the new urban classes, but also continued many classical themes from Japanese art and literature. This most elegant publication presents a comprehensive survey of ukiyo-e artists and their works, providing a fascinating resource for scholars and general readers alike.Art History Books
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