Background
This survey of ukiyo-e features masterpieces from the collection of the Tokyo National Museumh.
As the book jacket states, "The comprehensive text, along with notes to the individual prints, was written by Sadao Kikuchi of the Tokyo National Museum, assisted by members of the museum staff.... In tracing the roughly 250-year history of the Japanese wood block print, the author examines its beginnings as a frankly erotic form through its development into the masterpieces of Utamaro, Hokusai, and Hiroshige.... All the important Japanese wood block artists are included, along with detailed comment on technique, styles, and methods of reproduction. This book illuminates all the facets of an art so uniquely identified with a particular place and yet so timelessly universal."
The illustrations number just shy of 1,600 and unquestionably constitute a comprehensive catalogue of ukiyo-e prints.
Description
Crown Publishers, NY (1968; first printing), hardcover (black cloth); very good condition (very slight scuffing from shelf wear along bottom edges of cover); good dust jacket with slight tears at spine edges, covered with a clear-plastic archival protector; illustrated throughout in black-and-white (1,500 illustrations) and color (96 plates); 423pp.; Library of Congress 68-9073; out of print.
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