Book Description
This unique book by tattoo artist Takahiro Kitamura (Horitaka, a pupil of Horiyoshi III) discusses the art of the Japanese tattoo in the context of Ukiyo-e, concentrating on the parallel histories of the woodblock print and the tattoo. Through high quality illustrations it shows that the Japanese tattoo is highly reliant on and linked to the woodblock print and that it deserves a position among the other art forms. A range of typical ukiyo-e motifs in the Japanese tattoo are discussed and illustrated by the original Japanese prints, and sketches, drawings and tattoos by tattoo master Horiyoshi III. The book ends with a special essay by Don Ed Hardy.
Customer Reviews:
Japanese Art as Tattoo and Vice Versa.......2005-05-12
Never has a book demonstrated so well the relationship between Japanese wood block prints and tattoos. Despite the seeming deluge of complex images that appear in large Japanese tattoos and body suits, the elements and themes are actually not that many and are readily recognized with practice. Tattoo artists will pour over this volume and collectors (both book and tattoo) shouldn't be without it.
tops on the cultural context of the japanese tattoo.......2003-07-09
Takahiro Kitamura's "Tattoos of the Floating World" is far from a be-all and end-all guide to Japanese tattoos. However, it is for the moment without peer in providing a cultural context, and it thus adds depth to a reading of many other favorites, including Fellman's "The Japanese Tattoo," Addiss' "Japanese Ghosts and Demons," and Klompmakers' "Of Brigands and Bravery: Kuniyoshi's Heroes of the Suikoden."
In this slender volume, Kitamura's primary focus is the linkage of the woodblock printing tradition of the Edo period (1615-1868) to the development of the tattoo as art. With such a focus, afficionados of the print artists Kuniyoshi, Kunisada, and Kunichika will find many illustrations to delight them, and there are as well photographs of the current artistry being worked by tattoo masters. Adding to the value of the book are a preface written by Donald Richie and an afterword by Don Ed Hardy. The first essay is elegiac and lyrical in tone; the second provides personal insights by a Western connoisseur of the tattoo art form.
The shortcomings of "Tattoos of the Floating World" concern what is not included. The book would have benefitted greatly from having an index as well as a more generously-executed glossary. Moreover, I regret that Kitamura, who as a tattoo artist is uniquely qualified to do so, did not more systematically and fully catalogue and explain the symbolism of Japanese tattoos.
Masterful Examination of Floating World Arts.......2003-05-03
Most tattoo afficianados are aware that Japanese tattoos are steeped in history and culture. But Tattoos Of The Floating World: Ukiy-o Motifs In The Japanese tattoo explores this history and culture in a way never done before. Takahiro Kitamura's research and unique insight combine to present the reader with not only a history of the Japanese tattoo, but also with an understanding of how it came to be, how it continued to maintain its traditions through centuries of persecution and cultural metamorphosis, and how it both influenced and was influenced by the contemporary arts of early Japan.
The first half of this excellent work explores the early history of the Floating World (as pleasure districts were known as Japan's Edo period), focusing on the "triumvirate of arts": ukiyo-e (wood block prints), irezumi (tattoos), and kabuki theatre. Ukiyo-e and irezumi are so closely intertwined that tattoos of the day were referred to as horimono (carved object) in deference to the process of carving a wood block print. Kabuki was the theatre of the people and expressed not only the history and mythology of Japan, but the people's innermost desires as well. Kitamura's exploration of the ways in which these three arts intertwined demonstrates his love of the topic and inspires a similar affection in the reader.
The latter half of Tattoos Of The Floating World details many of the themes so strongly connected with Japanese Tattoo today. Sections devoted to such heroes as Fudo Myoo, Fujin and Raijin, Kumonryu Shishin, and Tennin give a basic understanding of their characters themselves and their endurance as tattoo motifs. Details are also provided on such traditional images as dragons, koi, shunga, falcons, the Kurikaraken, tigers and the phoenix.
Illustrated throughout with ukiyo-e, original sketches by Horiyoshi III, and photographs by Jai Tanju, this work is as beautiful as it is educational. The pairing of sketches next to their finished tattoos highlights the artistry involved in Japanese tattoo while the presentation of ukiyo-e prints alongside tattoos of the same characters and motifs demonstrates the cultural and historic similarities.
As a special bonus, Don Ed Hardy weighs in with an essay exploring his own discovery of Japanese tattoo. Ed Hardy is the foremost American authority on Japanese tattoo and was one of the first Westerners to write on the subject. This essay follows his discovery of Japanese tattoo and his adventures in crossing the borders (both physical and cultural) between Japanese and Western tattooing.
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- Ukiyo-E
- Dont drop this book on your foot--OUCH!
- The Book as Art
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Ukiyo-e (Themes)
Gian Carlo Calza
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
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Japanese Prints: The Art Institute of Chicago
ASIN: 0714845388 |
Book Description
The art of ukiyo-e (the floating world) originated in the city of Edo (1603-1867, now Tokyo), when the political and military power of Japan was in the hands of the shoguns. Comprising six essays, six plate sections and over 600 illustrations this beautiful book provides a perfect introduction to the art of this period. The paintings, scrolls and prints reproduced here demonstrate not only the new urban pleasures of the theatre, restaurants, teahouses and geisha, but also Japan's love of nature and tradition. Professor Calza's accessible style provides a fascinating yet scholarly study of such masters as Hokusai, Hiroshige and Utamaro.
Customer Reviews:
Ukiyo-E.......2007-10-02
A sumptuous and diverse collection of these Japanese prints that have been so significant in Asian culture and Western art.
Dont drop this book on your foot--OUCH!.......2006-01-29
The eternal search for the perfect art book. Lots of high quality, large images. The book is predominantly images, with little supporting text. Which is just fine by me. The bredth of this book is its selling point. Its huge and covers a large span of time. My only issue is the size of the images. NOt all, but some are just to small. But, thats why I have a magnifying glass at hand. If you want to own one really good book on Ukiyo-e, this just might be your best bet.
The Book as Art.......2005-12-23
One of the most frequently referenced periods of Eastern art is the Edo Period in Japan, a time when woodcuts, scrolls, prints, and ink drawings literally flowed from the brushes and hands of craftsmen such as Hokusai, Utamaro, and Hiroshige. The depiction of ocean waves is still informing the art of many artists - Pat Steir comes to mind first. This is the period of ukiyo-e, a time of emperors and grandeur and shoguns and power, all captured in the enormously imaginative art. It was also a period when artists turned their attention to the honor of the geisha life, the teahouses, and the palaces of pleasure with graphic sexual depictions, a time when the rest of the outside world seemed to matter little to the level of culture in Edo (now Tokyo) for over 200 years.
This splendid book is in a very large format that allows the reproductions of the plates to resemble life size! Intertwined with the well written history of art and techniques as well as erudite essays on the Japanese sociopolitical, cultural, the all important Japanese tradition of the time are placed generous examples of the finest works by the finest artists. The art is flat dimensionally but hardly communicatively. Elegant portraits of geishas reveal the traditional garb and makeup and represent a history lesson for these women of pleasure. The pure landscapes and seascapes and views mountains and volcanoes are representative of the fact that Japan is an island and never far from the influence of water.
Though the book is expensive the investment is well worth the cost as only the finest paper, printing techniques, and design have been extravagantly lavished on this very beautiful and informative volume. Highly Recommended. Grady Harp, December 05
Book Description
Japanese woodblock prints, or ukiyo-e, occupy a singular position in the lexicon of world art. They enthralled such Western artists as Whistler, Manet, Degas, and van Gogh, and gave rise to a wave of "japonisme" in the salons of Paris, London, and New York that left a lasting impression.
As the successor to previous aristocratic traditions, the ukiyo-e print represents the last flowering of traditional pictorial art before Japan entered the modern era. These "pictures of the floating world" reflected the world of the townspeople of Edo (Tokyo), focusing on the popular entertainments
of the day, landscapes of favored scenic spots, and portraits of well-known geisha, kabuki actors, and sumo stars.
The present volume delves into the history of these unique artistic endeavors, tracing their development from the lavish works commissioned by aristocratic patrons in the sixteenth century to their peak in popularity among the rising merchant class of the flourishing future capital. As the story of
the genre's blossoming unfolds, Mr. Kobayashi's illuminating commentary on all its varied aspects-styles, artists, engravers, printers, and the demands of an insatiable but fickle public-captures the essence of the art and provides a fascinating glimpse into the culture of old Japan. With the large
color plates and numerous detailed close-ups accompanying the text, Ukiyo-e: An Introduction is essential reading for anyone interested in exploring the exotic world of the Japanese print.
Book Description
Ever since Japan opened its doors to the West in the latter half of the nineteenth century, Westerners have been fascinated by the exquisite art forms that flourished during the previous two hundred years of self-imposed isolation. Among the most intriguing were the bold yet refined paintings
and prints known as ukiyo-e, which portrayed the popular pursuits of the time with extraordinary power. Such was the appeal of this unique art in the West that tens of thousands of superb prints eventually found their way into museum collections around the world.
The present volume highlights over 130 outstanding examples from the vast holdings of the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Strikingly original and sumptuously colored, the ukiyo-e in these pages recapture the spirit of the period in which they were created. Here can be found the glamorous
courtesans of the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters, the flamboyant vigor of kabuki theater, and the diversities of the Japanese landscape.
The prints form a breathtaking panorama of the world of ukiyo-e from its inception to its final flowering at the end of the nineteenth century. Complementary texts by Rupert Faulkner and Richard Lane illuminate the craft of woodblock print making and explore the emergence of such versatile geniuses
as Hokusai and Hiroshige.
The lasting appeal of Japanese woodblock prints may be rooted in the richness of their imagery and the power of their innovation, or perhaps in their uncanny ability to convey the special vitality of Edo Japan. Whatever the case, this lavish volume seeks not only to pay homage to the Japanese
artists and craftsmen who took the woodblock print to unprecedented heights, but also to show the range of this astonishingly versatile art form.
Customer Reviews:
The Floating World.......1999-05-31
Unexpected earnings from the Great Exhibition of 1851 (at the Crystal Palace in London) were used to establish the following year the Victoria and Albert Museum, the world's largest collection of applied art and design. In 1853, Commodore Matthew Perry made his famous expedition to Japan, which had been isolated for 250 years, and set up trade agreements. Examples of Western technology (locomotive, telegraph, camera) were given to the Japanese, and Japanese artifacts to Westerners. Of particular impact were Japanese woodcuts of the 17th through 19th centuries, called ukiyo-e or images of "the floating world," tens of thousands of which ended up in museum collections throughout the world. Many (perhaps most) American and European artists and designers were influenced by the then-strange stylistic traits of these prints (crisp black outlines, bold flat areas of color, asymmetrical arrangements, and dramatic cropping), among them such people as Whistler, Manet, Degas, Toulouse-Lautrec, Gauguin, Aubrey Beardsley, and Frank Lloyd Wright. "All my work," wrote Vincent van Gogh to his brother, "is in a way founded on Japanese art." This stunning volume is a full-color treasury of 130 of those woodcuts (introduced and annotated by scholars) from the many now in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. (Copyright © by Roy R. Behrens from Ballast Quarterly Review, Vol. 14 No. 3, Spring 1999.)
Average customer rating:
- Kimono-clad cats are dancing and drinking!
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Ukiyo-E Cats (A Kodansha Postcard Book)
Kuniyoshi
Manufacturer: Kodansha International (JPN)
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 4770017820 |
Customer Reviews:
Kimono-clad cats are dancing and drinking!.......2000-12-19
Ukiyoe (Japanese wood printing) cats by UTAGAWA Kuniyoshi(1797-1861), who was crazy about cats. 24 full color postcards. At the top of the book, there are description on the artist and each works. Robustly bound and also suitable for collection.
Don't expect cute and lovely kittens. Kuniyoshi's cats are realistic, sometimes they might be even grotesque to Western people's eyes. Most of cats are clad in Kimono, dancing, drinking and play Japanese chess!
Average customer rating:
- a first-rate addition to any Japanese art library
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Floating World of Ukiyo-E: Shadows, Dreams and Substance
Dr. Sandy Kita ,
James Douglas Farquhar ,
Lawrence E. Marceau , and
Katherine L. Blood
Manufacturer: Harry N. Abrams
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0810941694 |
Book Description
The exquisite, colorful Japanese woodblock prints that represent the art of Ukiyo-e first flourished in 17th-century Edo (now Tokyo). Today these "pictures of the floating world" are the most popular form of Japanese art. This elegant book takes a fresh look at Ukiyo-e, showcasing a never-before-published trove of Japanese prints, drawings, and books from the collection of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.
Known masterpieces by such names as Hiroshige and Hokusai stand alongside rare and unusual works. Colors are exceptionally vivid, in part because the art has never been exhibited and is rarely handled. The beauty of the book will delight art lovers, while the cutting-edge scholarship and unusually comprehensive bibliography will also excite the specialist and collector.
160 illustrations in full color, 232 pages, 9 x 11"September
Customer Reviews:
a first-rate addition to any Japanese art library.......2001-11-26
Writing on Edo-period Japanese prints tends to be dominated by studies of single artists, print series by single artists, and chronological histories. Against this background, "The Floating World of Ukiyoe: Shadows, Dreams, and Substance," produced in conjunction with an exhibition, is a most welcome contribution. Here the emphasis is on showcasing a diverse and rarely seen collection--the woodblock prints and woodblock-printed books of the Library of Congress-- and on presenting expert essays that put the genre of "ukiyoe" in a broad aesthetic and social context. Added bonuses include such features as the "raking light" photograph on page 118, which illustrates the effects created by print embossing. "The Floating World" has been superbly designed by Abrams and well edited. It is worth noting too that the index has been prepared with exceptional care. Meanwhile, the bibliography--which covers 309 items and runs more than 20 pages--is a wonderful guide to woodblock-printed books in the Library of Congress: for scholars of Japanese art, culture, and publishing, this alone will justify acquisition of this book.
Product Description
Features 163 illustrations, including 127 in color, a few fold-outs. Ukiyo-e hanga is a Japanese art. It was secular, topical, uninhibited, and strictly in the vernacular. The prints were the posters, the billboards, the picture magazines of the day. They were sold on city streets and were cheap. They brought to the public the images of the famous courtesans and beautiful women, actors, scenes from plays, history, and literature, pictures of family life, of samurai and aristocrats, the bustle of the marketplace, street brawls, wrestling matches, and, in the nineteenth century, marvelous scenes of travel, weather, and season. The major ukiyo-e hanga artists are reproduced in this book; they give us a magnificent picture of big city life in Japan during the Edo period (1615-1868), full of humor, wit, parody, as well as of pathos and tragedy. Index, bibliography, glossary.
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Ukiyo-e Greeting Cards (Stationery)
Editors of Phaidon Press
Manufacturer: Phaidon Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Cards
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ASIN: 0714845523 |
Book Description
The art of ukiyo-e (the floating world) originated in the city of Edo (1603-1867, now Tokyo), when the political and military power of Japan was in the hands of the shoguns and the country had very little contact with the West. These beautiful greetings cards feature a selection of prints, paintings and woodcuts that will appeal to a large range of art lovers as well as those with an interest in the history of Japan and the Far East. Produced to accompany the publication of Ukiyo-e by Gian Carlo Calza, the packs include some iconic images and introduce some lesser-known works by such masters as Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849), Kitagawa Utamaro (1754-1806) and Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858).
Book Description
Still life is perfect for beginners since every element can be controlled: composition, lighting, shape, color, and tone. Filled with expert advice, this wonderful guide offers budding artists all the information they need to get started. The ten projects become progressively more complex and highlight different skills. Arrange objects into pleasing displays and be sure that they are properly lit. Draw still lifes of fruits and vegetables, hard objects, flowers and other natural objects, fabric items, pottery, and more. Techniques covered include line and line quality, rendering tone and depicting color as tone, erasing as a creative process, using a grid, and mixing media. With endless possible variations, still life offers art students the ideal introduction to drawing basics.
Book Description
One of the first books of its kind, Sloane's "talk on clouds" does much more than teach you how to draw. Before the sketching even begins, he describes different types of "cloudscapes" and offers homespun techniques that help add texture and realism to cloud illustrations. Includes 110 black-and-white illustrations.
Book Description
It's no mystery why artists love to paint and draw landscapes, and always have, from ancient times to the present, and from beginners to masters. Ten practical projects, offered by an award-winning artist who's also a successful instructor on four continents, appear in simple stages that let you start simply and build your skills. Choose from a range of subjects, from the majesty of mountains, forests, and oceans to the closer-to-home magic of fields, skies, and snowscapes, even your own backyard. You'll try a variety of media, including graphite and pastel pencils, charcoal, pen and ink, chalk, and sketching pencil. Develop your own style and visual vocabulary, line quality, tone, and color, then try your hand at mixing media.
Customer Reviews:
One of the Best.......2007-08-06
This is easily one of the best books I've read that gives very practical tips and techniques with beautiful results.
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Learn to Draw Nature (Art Tricks)
Manufacturer: Top That Publishing PLC
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 1846660300 |
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Seascapes & Landscapes in Acrylics (How to Draw & Paint)
Maurice Harvey
Manufacturer: Walter Foster Pub
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0929261658 |
Book Description
More than just a fine work of landscape art instruction, this guidebook constitutes a celebration of one of nature's most triumphant creations. Illustrating the dominant features of many common species — elm, maple, willow, apple, more — it includes two portraits of each variety, in pencil and other media. 34 drawings.
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Draw Seascapes (Draw Books)
Norman Battershill
Manufacturer: A&C Black
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0713648570 |
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Still Life (Collins Learn to Draw)
Valerie Wiffen
Manufacturer: HarperCollins UK
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Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0004133331 |
Book Description
Drawing is an essential skill for all artists and this book makes learning to draw still life as simple as possible. All the basics are covered, to provide a sound foundation in drawing techniques, and numerous illustrations and step-by-step drawings show how these are put into practice. The book includes practical information on: tools and equipment; selecting your subject; composition; portraying light and tone; proportion and perspective; and pattern and texture.
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