National Museum, Tokyo (Great museums of the world) - Hardcover

Alberto Giuganino; Adolfo Tamburello

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0600793052 ISBN 13: 9780600793052

Publisher: Paul Hamlyn, 1969

Synopsis

Time/Life Great Museums of the World pub. 1968. In 126 superb color photographs the National Museum/Tokyo recreates the entire development of Far Eastern Art. The National Museum/Tokyo, the largest museum in Japan, founded in 1871, contains the most extensive and finest collections of Japanese art in the world. Comprising some 90,000 objects, it ranges over all periods and mediums from prehistoric times to the beginning of the modern era. While the major emphasis is on Japanese art, China is also importantly represented in works of extraordinary quality if more limited number. From this concentration of masterworks in all mediums emerges in dramatic perspective the succession of art forms and styles of Japan and their frequent interrelations with those of China. Pride of place in this book is given to painting, the major expression of both Japan and China, represented in this museum by no less than 11,000 works. But there are also examples of calligraphy; that sister-art of Far Eastern painting, besides bronzes, sculptures, metalwork, ceramics, lacquers, textiles, archeological treasures. All the great periods of Japanese painting are shown in supreme pieces, many of them classified national treasures. These include some of the great religious paintings of the Heian period, Japan's medieval age of faith. Then come the colorful illustrated scrolls of the Kamakura period, those lively graphic representations of tumultuous historical events. Then the monochrome ink paintings of the Muromachi period whn the Japanese, inspired by the spirit of Zen, adopted China's classic mode. Next, on view the resplendent screens and panels of the Momoyama period in dazzling effects of brilliant colors on gold backgrounds. Finally the more subdued poetry of the Ukiyo-e, depicting the daily life of the Edo period.

About this edition

• Publisher: Paul Hamlyn
• Publication date: 1969
• ISBN 10: 0600793052
• ISBN 13: 9780600793052
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 172