History of Japanese Art [Hardcover]

Penelope Mason (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0130163953 | ISBN-13: 978-0130163950 | Publication Date: March 10, 1993 | Edition: 1

This is the only reliable logically organized with well chosen illustrations available. It includes painting, sculpture and architecture as well as treatment of the minor arts.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

A comprehensive, extensively-illustrated, detailed overview of Japanese art -- from the Joman period (10,500 B.C.E. to 300 B.C.E.) through World War II.

From the Back Cover

Japanese art, like so many expressions of Japanese culture, is fascinatingly rich in its contrasts and paradoxes. Since the country opened its doors to the outside world in the mid-nineteenth century. Japanese art and culture have enjoyed an immense popularity in the West. When in 1993 renowned scholar Penelope Mason wrote the the first edition of History of Japanese Art, it was the first such volume in thirty yearsto chart a detailed overview of the subject. It remains the only comprehensive survey of its kind in English. This second edition ties together more closely the development of all the media within a well-articulated historical and social context.

New to the Second Edition

• Extended coverage of Japanese art beyond 1945
• New discoveries both in archeology and scholarship
• New material on calligraphy, ceramics, lacquerware, metalware, and textiles
• An extended glossary
• A comprehensively updated bibliography
• 94 new illustrations

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 432 pages
• Publisher: Prentice Hall; 1 edition (March 10, 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0130163953
• ISBN-13: 978-0130163950
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 9.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #156,397 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Japanese art overview, December 21, 2007

By 

usabear "eclectic one" (California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: History of Japanese Art (Paperback)

This volume is a good overview of the arts of Japan from a historical perspective. The perspective is decidedly Western, however, and tends to overstate the relevance of "fine arts" as opposed to the so-called "minor arts" and crafts. Thus, woodblock prints are given less space than their cultural impact would imply. More importantly, ceramics are accorded very little space - a major shortcoming to any art history of Japan.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Useful for Art History Students, January 26, 2007

By 

Tara A. Villanueva "Tara Villanueva" (New Jersey, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: History of Japanese Art (Hardcover)

Depending on what your intended usage for this book will be, this book may be somewhat helpful. I needed this for an art history class my senior year of college as an art history major. Thing is, the class was pretty ridiculous. It was supposed to be an introductory class into the art of japanese art & tradition, but the professor spoke more of Chinese art & traditions.

This book will give you a pretty thorough knowledge in Japanese Art, as well as some of its culture, more through the introductions of the eras and periods and through its pictures. But that's it, do not buy this if you're looking for a complete knowledge, because that's not what it is. Also, if you are looking for early (i.e. ancient!) japanese history, there really isn't any, in this book or just in general.

Definitely buy it here on Amazon, because I found it to be a lot cheaper in comparison to my friends who had spent a fortune on it through eBay and the university bookstores. You may also want to get a soft cover if you want to sell it back later on or use it solely for class, because it's such a heavy book (I have the hard cover). My intent was to keep the book, because it's such a nice book to have in anyone's collection.

If you do purchase it, you will not be let down. It's a great buy.

5.0 out of 5 stars Japanese art, February 1, 2012

By 

art history grad student - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: History of Japanese Art (Hardcover)

It is an extensive book on Japanese art. It's the recommended book by Japanese art professor. Relative thick. Comparative reading suggested: Japanese Art by Joan Stanley-Baker.