Japanese Art (World of Art) [Paperback]

Joan Stanley-Baker (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0500201927 | ISBN-13: 978-0500201923 | Publication Date: March 1984 | Edition: 1st, First Edition

Traces the history of Japanese painting, calligraphy, architecture, sculpture, and other arts from the prehistoric period to modern times.

Editorial Reviews

Review

A long-needed presentation of Japanese art that concisely offers inclusive coverage from prehistoric times to the twentieth century. -- Choice --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Joan Stanley-Baker teaches at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan and is the author of several books on Japanese and Chinese art. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 216 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson; 1st, First Edition edition (March 1984)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500201927
• ISBN-13: 978-0500201923
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #153,247 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Thorough Introduction, August 8, 2000

By A Customer

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

This classic book in its new edition presents a thorough, level-headed introduction to the many varieties and periods of Japanese art. Individual chapters highlight the major works and offer both beginner and armchair expert a background to the development of each genre. Unfortunately, what is lacking -- and this is a critique of the publisher's investment in this fine work rather than of the author's efforts -- is a presentation in size and color that suits the written content. How can the stunning but subtle beauty that is typical of all Japanese art be properly displayed when the accompanying photographs are small sized and printed in black & white? This book is highly recommended as a comprehensive overview of Japanese art, but you will need to look elsewhere to see the art as it ought to be seen.

33 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great beginner's book for Japanese art, March 22, 2001

By 

A Customer - See all my reviews

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

I found this to be a great book for learning about the different periods and art forms from Japan. The cultural periods from Prehistoric to Modern are covered, with stops in the Asuka, Heian, and very important Edo periods! Over 80 color illustrations from wall paintings to temple architecture to lacquered chests are presented for your viewing pleasure. The author has taken great care in describing whether an art form is native, imported, or has been modified and adopted into the culture (i.e. japanization). You'll find hundreds of illustrations but let me warn you THIS IS NOT A PICTURE BOOK! If you are looking for a book just to flip through to see nice pictures and also take a crash course on 'Japanese Art' then you most likely will have to look elsewhere. By reading this book from cover to cover you will gain a great understanding of Japanese art. Not every picture makes sense unless you read the accompanying paragraphs. If you do take your time you will come to appreciate the art of Japan and will gain a greater understanding of the people as well. My art & humanities teacher, a PhD, describes this book as "excellent and splendid". For her that is like putting Tom Selleck in front of her fireplace with a bottle of champagne. After reading this book I hope you will be equally excited. :)

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Japanese art observed by a Chinese art specialist, May 3, 2002

By A Customer

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

The author Joan Stanley-Baker earned her Ph.D. on Chinese art. Probably being aware of this, I felt that an outsider's view is rather strong in the book, as she discusses Japanese art in terms of the two axes of indigenous and imported traditions, and regards domestication as an important issue throughout. However, I found the introduction very interesting, especially her notes on the coexistence of contradictory aspects in Japanese art, such as complete mirroring of foreign elements and introspective and insular tendency. The following chapters are rather disappointing that her insights are not very well demonstrated in dealing with individual works of art. For comprehensive understanding of Japanese art, Penelope Mason's _History of Japanese Art_ is much better.