Pictures of the Floating World: An Introduction to Japanese Prints

Thompson, Sarah E.

ISBN 10: 0789214393 / ISBN 13: 9780789214393

Published by Abbeville Press, 2022

About this Item

May contain slight marks or highlighting. Light to moderate wear from use. Fully readable and functional. Ships from our Kentucky facility. Orders placed before 1 PM EST (Mon?Fri) ship the same day. Packaged with care. Contact us with any questions!

Seller Inventory # 279616-1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Pictures of the Floating World: An Introduction to Japanese Prints
• Publisher: Abbeville Press
• Publication Date: 2022
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0789214393
• ISBN 13: 9780789214393
• Binding: hardcover
• Condition: Good
• Weight: 37 ounces

About this title

Synopsis

A beautifully illustrated introduction to Japanese woodblock prints (ukiyo-e)―slipcased, with three frameable prints

In Edo Japan, woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e (“pictures of the Floating World”) captured the entertainment culture of the urban elite and eventually many other subjects as well. These beautiful prints were the result of a meticulous craft process, in which an artist’s initial drawing was translated by expert carvers into multiple printing blocks for different colors.

In this attractive volume, Sarah E. Thompson, curator of Japanese art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, provides a highly readable overview of the cultural and artistic history of ukiyo-e, showcasing 120 exceptional prints from the museum’s world-class collection, by masters including Utamaro, Hokusai, and Hiroshige. She explores each of the principal genres in turn: beauty and fashion, the kabuki theater, landscape, nature, history and literature, and fantasy.

Pictures of the Floating World features a traditional Japanese stab binding and is housed in a durable slipcase together with three remarkable prints, suitable for framing. It will be a must-have for all art lovers.

Includes three frameable prints housed in a slipcase along with the book

About the Author

Sarah E. Thompson is a curator of Japanese art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and creator of the MFA’s digital catalog of over fifty thousand prints. She has curated numerous exhibitions at the MFA and elsewhere, including Tattoos in Japanese Prints. Her most recent books include Genji: The Prince and the Parodies and Hokusai’s Landscapes: The Complete Series.