Description
The book opens with an analysis of period documents to establish the terms of appraisal brought to ukiyo-e in late eighteenth-century Japan, mapping the evolution of the genre from a century earlier and the development of its typologies and the creation of a canon of makers-both of which have defined the field ever since. Organized around divisions of major technological and aesthetic developments, the book reveals how artistic practice and commercial enterprise were intertwined throughout ukiyo-e's history, from its earliest imagery through the twentieth century. The depiction of particular subjects in and for the floating world of urban Edo and the process of negotiating this within the larger field of publishing are examined to further ground ukiyo-e as material culture, as commodities in a mercantile economy.
Picturing the Floating World offers a new approach: a critical yet accessible analysis of the genre as it was developed in its social, cultural, and political milieu. The book introduces students, collectors, and enthusiasts to ukiyo-e as a genre under construction in its own time while contributing to our understanding of early modern visual production.
About the Author
Julie Nelson Davis is professor of the history of art at the University of Pennsylvania.
Reviews
Picturing the Floating World is at once accessible, critical, and informative. It builds both on the latest scholarship in the field and on period writings and in so doing offers a fresh, authoritative take on the subject. There are many general books on ukiyo-e, but the coverage, organization, length, and choice of illustrations make this an excellent historical introduction for students and print enthusiasts alike. In recent years, much scholarship has focused on understanding the mechanics of ukiyo-e production and sales, and Julie Davis skillfully incorporates these 'discoveries' in her work to provide fuller contexts for the prints and print studios. Her book also includes the latest conclusions of Japanese, European, and American scholars and a useful bibliography, making it a valuable textbook for students and resource for anyone interested in Japanese prints.
Book Information
ISBN 9780824889210
Author Julie Nelson Davis
Format Paperback
Page Count 224
Imprint University of Hawai'i Press
Publisher University of Hawai'i Press
Weight(grams) 390g