Product Description
Full-colour catalogue of an exhibition of 98 items of japanese ceramics by Meiji artists such as Makuzu Kozan and Yabu Meizan. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
Some of Japan's most captivating art has taken the form of scrolls and folding screens. Japanese scrolls--made of silk or paper decorated with ink, gold leaf, and watercolors--bear the influence not only of Japan's own literature but also of Chinese painting and calligraphy as well as Buddhist iconography. Screens, both beautiful and practical, are suited to the flexible spaces inside a traditional Japanese home. The elegant scrolls and screens reproduced in this calendar date from the fifteenth to early nineteenth centuries.

Published with the Asian Art Museum of San Francisco. Size: 12 x 13 in.; opens to 12 x 26 in. Printed on FSC certified paper with soy-based ink. ... Read more

Product Description
This volume presents the Powerhouse Museum's collection of costumes, textiles, rugs, lithographs of designs and metalwork from Central Asia. The vivid images are accompanied by essays which look at the nexus between the nomadic and settled cultures of Central Asia and at the history of this region. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Beautiful exhibition guide on Central Asian arts and crafts
I highly recommend this superb illustrated look at the Powerhouse Museum's collection of Central Asian arts and crafts. Included in this large 80-page book are color photographs of rugs, dresses, coats, headcoverings, jewelry, embroidery, architectural drawings, glass pottery, horse covers, bags, Uzbeks, Kazakhs, and Turkmens. The handcrafted items possess a rich treasure-trove of complex geometric forms and designs. The images are accompanied by helpful introductory texts by Christina Sumner and Heleanor Feltham concerning the history and culture of Central Asian peoples and a large map of the Silk Road routes. The selected bibliography lists 22 books and 4 websites where one can explore Central Asian traditions further. ... Read more

Product Description

East and West intersect in this gorgeous exploration of South Asian textiles and their influence on British fashion and dress. From 17th-century chintzes to 19th-century silks and paisleys to the oriental­ism craze of the 1960s, these lush, patterned fabrics have long had an impact on Western style. Complete with stunning photographs of items from the V&A’s collections, as well as historical images and more recent photos of catwalk and street fashions, the book focuses on contemporary British Asian designers, South Asian textile production, and the presence of South Asian style in shops and urban spaces.

Product Description

Product Description
In this collection profiling the work of eighty of the most influential artists in China today, art critic Richard Vine offers a comprehensive, critical and highly illustrated assessment of China s emerging role as a force in the contemporary art world.

Over the past decade the contemporary Chinese art scene has come to the forefront of the international art world. The surge of commercial and critical success can be traced to a number of social and cultural factors, including a loosening of restrictions on subject matter, a new freedom to experiment, and a desire to preserve and express Chinese identity on a global scale. Organized by medium, including painting, sculpture and installation, photography, performance art, and new media, each chapter in the book focuses on artists and their most important works. Thoughtful and illuminating appraisals of the artworks take into consideration the whirlwind changes in the country s social and political identities. The book also offers salient biographical information about each artist. The result is an exciting introduction to modern China: a dynamic new player in the international art scene. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Contemporary Art; New China, New Art
This book is well composed and easy to read for giving an understanding why Cynical Realism and Political Pop within the Chinese Contemporary Art have had such a success during the first decade of 2000. The presentation of the individual artists are balanced and it tries to explain their inspiration from a society that was closed from foreign impressions until the early 1980's. Many of the artists are today well established, but soon a new generation of artists will emerge with different upbringing and ideas. The book gives a perfect introduction to Chinese Contemporary Art and should be part of any collectors artbook collection. More information about Chinese Contemporary Art is available on (...)

Great as an introductory book to Chinese art
up-to-date, well-written, and providing enough historical background to understand the artworks. The author knows his subject well, and his interpretation is often clear yet nuanced. I especially like the fact that, given the vast scope of the book, the author still pays close attention to individual artists, and talks about both the techniques & styles and the content & social implication of the artworks.

The division of chapters is a bit too obvious and sometime not entirely appropriate. But it's still one of the best intro-level books on contemporary Chinese art printed in the US (or anywhere). And given its size & quality of the images, it's very reasonably priced. ... Read more

Product Description
The grave, sensuous, and infinitely varied arts of India have long been admired in the West. This engaging book tells the story clearly and vividly from the first, still mysterious, beginnings in the Indus valley, through the great masterpieces of Buddhist and Hindu art to the coming of Islam, the eclectic culture of the Mughal court, and the golden age of miniature painting. Much of Indian art is immediately accessible to the outsider, but much is also enigmatic, needing interpretation and guidance before it can be enjoyed in depth: the strange pantheon of the Hindu gods, the subtle insights of Buddhist mysticism, or the complex symbolism of the miniatures. For this edition, the late Professor Craven thoroughly revised the text and incorporated works by contemporary artists, linking their achievements to the traditions of Indian art. A new glossary and time line are also included. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Not great.
A concise history indeed!Craven does admit that this book contributes little to the study of Indian art and that it only mentions the most studied works.This text was purchased for an art history course and I would have to say that while it gets the job done, it is not a stand out text by any means.
I am not a proof-reader or a literary critic but I found the writing to be "clunky".While reading I got the impression that the author wrote this book from notes or dictations.
This book does not do the art of India justice.The text detracted from what I am sure is a fascinating subject.All-in-all, not great.

Excellent overview/explanation of Indian Art.
This is an excellent overview of Indian art for beginners.It takes you through the major periods and styles, and concisely explains why each artistic/architectural development is significant.

I think,it's the best book for beginners i have seen.
I have just start reading this book & it's very interesting,useful& a very good helper for beginners.At the same time it is a very goodreferance book.Some topics in this book are real nice & helpful foreg.The Mauryan period,South India,Islamic India & Jain,Rajasthani &Pahari painting.This famous book provides the widest available range ofillustrated topics on art in all it's aspects.But there is something inthis book which is still missing & i can not find out that what ismissing?still it's a very good book for the beginners like me & i loveto take refarences from this book & to use it as a course book in fineart in my college.That's only what i can say about this lovely,useful &great book.And i like to say thanks to the authur of this book that is ROYC. CRAVEN for writing such a lovely & useful book for all the artlovers. ... Read more

Product Description
The fine arts of China are often ignored by the Western world, from jade tablets, painted silk hand scrolls and fans to ink and lacquer paintings and calligraphy. Art in China offers a novel look and comprehensive examination of all aspects of Chinese art, including art found in tombs to the state-controlled art of the Mao Zedong era. 130 photos, 65 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Art in China (Oxford History of Art Series)
Beautifully illustrated, delightful and extremely informative.This book is a marvelous supplement to the typical art history text books.

Good introduction to the arts of China
I like the author's approach to writing an introduction to the arts of China. Instead of trying to touch at least all of the major artists/works from all of the major periods (which in the case of China would mean touching very many things in a very cursory way), the author focuses on the context for which works were produced. Some of them were meant to be "art" from the start, some were not. This offers ample opportunities to examine how some works influenced other later in history. Overall, I think the ideas presented are some of the most gripping I have found in Chinese art history books. The book includes recent discoveries and scholarship and uses Pinyin romanization (two great features - not all recently-published books do).

Currently the best short introduction to art in China
While not the easiest to read, Clunas's book is currently the best short modest-sized introduction to art in China. The title "Art in China" (not "Chinese Art") is intentional, for Clunas is one of the rare Occidental authors on this subject who transcend the limitations of their background and succeed in communicating some of the subtlety and complexity of the subject, so remote from Western tastes, but no less beautiful and profound.

For example, he points out that while Western art has concentrated on painting, calligraphy is the most esteemed art form in China. Furthermore, from its earliest beginnings, Chinese aesthetics has placed little emphasis on illusionism and perspective, even regarding these as juvenile and distracting from artistic self-expression. (In this respect, the Chinese anticipated "modern art theory" by centuries.) The very term "Chinese Art", he maintains, is a Western invention, since the art work in China was, until recently, never divorced from its political, religious or decorative functions. (That is to say, it was not "museum art" isolated from its context and consciously regarded as art.) Because of these characteristics, art in China has been little appreciated in the West.

Clunas's probing book should be read slowly-- and re-read. The illuminating text gives a relatively sophisticated and sympathetic account of art in China, unlike many books, which are simply naive, provincial and as full of trivial dates and abstractions as they are lacking in insight. The representative works, drawn from all periods of Chinese history--including modern times--are superb and well chosen, and the pictures are excellent, considering the book's modest size. I especially enjoy the full-page color reproduction of Guo Xi's masterpiece "Early Spring" which equals, if not surpasses, the finest landscape paintings of the Dutch golden age (of course, not in illusionist technique, but in sheer expressive and evocative power as it unveils a mysterious fantastic landscape reflecting an interior, as much as an exterior, reality).

My only complaint is that there is only one book on "Art in China" in the Oxford History of Art series, while there are at least 30 on Western art in the same series. One book covers Western art for a 25-year span (1920-45), but 5,000 years of high art in China--in painting, jade, ceramics, lacquer, porcelain, calligraphy and sculpture--gets only a single volume! Talk about provincialism! Certainly, this is no fault of Dr. Clunas, whose work seems all the more commendable in the midst of the naive insularity and ethnocentrism with which it has unfortunately been grouped.

BRILLIANT!!
In researching information regarding Sung Dynasty scrolls and artists, Ifound this book to be a most generous indeed. The author provides clear, precise information without the clutter of person guesses. He provides a wonderful assortment of pictures and resources. Clear, clean photographs of artifacts providing the reader with primary documentation .This is a MUST for anyone studying the Arts and Artists of early China. Thank you Craig Clunas!

challengingbook
This is a challengingwork.

He realizes 5 standpoints. He writes "What is historically called art in China, by whom and when?". Really,I feel it rather reflect unconsciousattitude of 20th centurycollectors and scholars.

Art in the Tomb /Art at Court/Art in theTemple/Art in the life of the Elite /Art in the Market-Place

Followingrecentsearching environment ofartifacts; lifetime of painters,art-market, patrons, etc., as"Painter's Practice" by J.cahill,Mr. Clunas searched relationsof arts-makers and the society. Thisapproach is interesting and very suggestive. It may be the first tryamongsuch cheap and popular booksabout "Arts in China". For suchcharacter, I feelit should not be an elementary textbook.

Calligraphywas more focused than M. Sullivan's book"The Arts of China"inthe chapter "Art in the life of the Elite".Short columnsexplain words and technical terms vividly. It is worth to buy itonly forthem. Bibliographical essays(231-237 p.) are very useful.Plates andfigures are all fine. There is few inadequateitem. Fig 83and 87 showsas we appreciate inmuseums, i.e.shows itshandscrollformat.I thinkthe author make effort to showsurroundingtextileof paintings and theformat in somefigs.

As an avocat d'diable,I noticesome. The gongof Fig. 49is not 8th century. Dragons and a beast should be genuine 8thcentury items. The gongis regarded 12-13th centuryJapanese artifact.The item of Fig. 82 may not be a representative workby Tang-Yin.

BothC. Clunas and Michael Sullivanedited catalogues of Sir AlainBarlowCollection(now in Sussex College). (ref. The Barlow Collectionof ChineseCeramics, Bronzes and Jades: an Introduction, The University of Sussex,1997/Nov.) Sullivan did in1963 and 1974. Clunas didin 1997. They mighthave share common intellectual environment according OrientalCeramicSociety, England. ... Read more

Product Description
This book focuses on the work of African American artists during the Depression and the war years (1929-1945), when government-sponsored programs such as the WPA led to a general resurgence in artistic production throughout the United States.

The catalogue features the work of Robert Blackburn, Raymond Steth, Horace Woodroff, and Dox Trash, among others, with a smaller selection of paintings and watercolors by such notable artists as Horace Pippin, Romare Bearden, Jacob Lawrence, and Bill Traylor.Included are essays on the work in its cultural context and on printmaking techniques. Most of the works in this volume are recent acquisitions of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and have not been previously published. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
The complexity and confusion of styles and intentions are true characteristics of modern Chinese art. Just as the definition of "modernity" was subjected to reinterpretations at various points in China's recent history, current notions of the canon are likewise subjected to change.

This book - consisting of ten articles by art historians, artist, historian, and curator - explores the developments of Chinese art in the 20th century, applying critical theories to question and reinterpret concepts that are normally taken for granted. Their writings also reveal the thought processes in which the authors filtered what they considered to be important information, especially regarding people, events, dates, and artworks. As such, the topic of each article is, in itself, a result of judicious selection. This volume demonstrates how modern Chinese art history has been - and can be - written. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
An essential, authoritative, and up-to-date introduction to the art of Cambodia, and a vivid glimpse into a world that continues to challenge travelers.

Legendary tales of kings and princes, wars, conquests, and unions with gods and goddesses—all these are portrayed in the spectacular friezes, reliefs, and stone carvings for which Cambodia has become justly renowned. The enormous variety of styles and influences, both sacred and secular, that are expressed in Cambodian art make this one of the most surprising and rewarding of all Southeast Asian cultures.

Our understanding of the Khmers, whose kingdom dates back to early in the first millennium, is drawn from written Chinese records, myths recorded in Sanskrit, and the evidence revealed by research and exploration that continues to the present day. The profound and lasting influence of India on Khmer culture is evident in Cambodia's religious architecture, principally Hindu and Buddhist temples; each faith is reflected in work of remarkable vigor and exceptional grace and beauty.

French archaeologists in the nineteenth century reopened the doors onto this world. Still more remarkable, perhaps, is how much has survived through generations of determined looting and political conflict. These persistent features of Cambodia's history make the richness and fragility of its architectural and artistic legacy strikingly apparent. World-famous sites, such as Angkor Wat and Preah Vihear, breathtaking monuments in their own right, have tended to overshadow a wealth of lesser-known buildings and complexes buried deep in the jungle.

Many remarkable photographs are published here for the first time, of both famous sites and those that have, until now, been almost impossible to see, for both geographical and political reasons. 180 illustrations, 85 in color. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

A perfect introduction to Cambodian art for non-experts
This book is perfect if you are not familiar with Khmer art. It gives a perspective on the evolution of Cambodian architectura and sculpture from Funan times to the fall of Angkor. It is easy to read, written in a clear style. The author highlights the main features of every period of Cambodian art and comments many interesting creations. This book includes many good pictures of creations kept at the National Museum in Phnom Penh, which is valuable because most other books refer mainly to works at European and American collections. However, the specialist in Southeast Asian art may be unimpressed, since there are not many crossed references to reciprocal influences between Khmer and other Southeast Asian cultures.

Art & Architecture of Cambodia (World of Art)
It gives you a vague idea of the Cambodian Art & Arquitecture.

Perfect for travelling
There are some table top books on Khmer art available which are great, but this publication is the only _compact_ book on Khmer art available which gives a stringent, chronological and readable introduction into the history of Khmer art.

Even the best guide (IMHO of course) to Angkor by Michael Freeman and Claude Jacques: "Ancient Angkor" [River Books *2003*, ISBN 9748225275, not listed at Amazon] which of course concentrates on the various temples in Ankor can be confusing concerning the time line and development of Khmer art.

Moreover, Ibbitson Jessup choose many fine examples of Khmer art today on display in the National Museum in Phnom Penh. Which means, if you read the book before travelling you will be able to see the original sculptures later in Cambodia, or even better to read some sections a second time in front of the art works. This will give you a much deeper understanding of everything you will see in Angkor.

This compact and readable introduction to Khmer Art this is IMHO the best travel companion available at the moment and makes a perfect duo with the guide by Freeman/Jaques.

A little disappointing
Not up to T&H's usual standard in terms of production - binding not great (refers to pbk edition), printing of the images below current expected standards.But none of that can be blamed on Jessup - and these faults are the downside of a book which is very cheap for what you get.However, the text is another matter - by no means authoritative as the blurb proclaims - in particular, the first chapter is best left totally unread because of the errors - indicative of which is the howler on page 8 which states that Thai is a Mon-Khmer language- even the most sleepy editor should have spotted that one - unfortunately not the worst example - just the first that jumped out.BUT not all is bad - the selection of images is good and there will be at least some new to people who have an interest in this field, the bibliography has most of the important references and generally the documentation is very good.There are good examples of most of the important aspects of Cambodian art and architecture. If you want a book with a reasonable overview of art and architecture (but not of the Cambodian background) and you don't mind a small format for the photographs, then this is it. ... Read more

Product Description
This annotated translation is the first systematic rendering into any Western language of the nine major treatises on the art of the Japanese No theater by Zeami Motokiyo (1363-1443). Zeami, who transformed the No from a country entertainment into a vehicle for profound theatrical and philosophical experience, was a brilliant actor himself, and his treatises touch on every aspect of the theater of his time. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (1)

Theatre Theory Centuries Old
Zeami, born in 1363, is the man to whom No theatre owes its form and soul - his writings on the No drama have shaped and determined it for over half a millenium. But his influences do not stop there - his ideas were highly significant to famed British director Peter Brook's productions (he would cite Zeami's concept of 'Jo, Ha, Kyu' again and again) and No drama has inspired countless directors with its attention to precise movement, its masks, and its almost spiritual approach to performance.
It is possible for a theatre practitioner to read Zeami's treatises and, as far as theory goes, never have to read another book. Zeami covers all basic aspects of theatre, for the performer from the necessity of constant physical training, to the inevitable consequences of aging on a performers career, to the concept of the audience as a participant in the show. The text of this book is drawn from a number of different essays, and Zeami does have a habit here of going over the same material again and again (it is quite possible that Zeami never considered the texts would come together as a single volume), but even so it is hard to escape the feeling of primal importance this book conveys. A needed text. ... Read more

Product Description

Product Description
The uniqueness of Japanese culture rests on the fact that, throughout its history, Japan has continually taken, adapted, and transformed diverse influences from Korea, China, the South Seas, Europe, and the Americas into distinct traditions of its own. Extensively revised, updated, and expanded since its first publication, this authoritative survey of the arts of Japan from the prehistoric period to the present brings together the results of the most recent research on the subject. Profusely illustrated with examples from all the arts--painting, calligraphy, the decorative arts, and architecture--and with a wide-ranging bibliography, Japanese Art addresses itself equally to those who come to the subject for the first time and to the student. It is a concise overview of a fascinating and perplexing culture in which interest has never been greater than it is today. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

ughh
book kind of sucked. not what I thought I was going to learn from it.

Japanese art observed by a Chinese art specialist
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.

Great beginner's book for Japanese art
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.:)

A Thorough Introduction
This classic book in its new edition presents a thorough, level-headedintroduction to the many varieties and periods of Japanese art.Individualchapters highlight the major works and offer both beginner and armchairexpert a background to the development of each genre.Unfortunately, whatis lacking -- and this is a critique of the publisher's investment in thisfine work rather than of the author's efforts -- is a presentation in sizeand color that suits the written content.How can the stunning but subtlebeauty that is typical of all Japanese art be properly displayed when theaccompanying photographs are small sized and printed in black & white? This book is highly recommended as a comprehensive overview of Japaneseart, but you will need to look elsewhere to see the art as it ought to beseen.

This is one of the best guid-book for beginners of art in Ja
Well, it is one of the best guid-book for the beginners who is interested in reading about Japanese art. My interest is in the Nanga and Ukiyo-e. I got the basic ideas about the two from this book. Then I started to readsome other books about the two topics. If you have no previous knowledgeabout Japanese art, pls start from this book. ... Read more

Product Description
The only museum devoted to East Asian Art to open in England in the last 30 years, the Museum of East Asian Art amasses a formidable collection of Chinese art, notably ceramics, jades, and metalworks. This volume features archaic bronzes, metalwares, cloisonne, lacquer, and other decorative arts. ... Read more

Product Description
China boasts a history of art stretching over 5,000 years and embracing a vast array of forms--objects of jade, lacquer and porcelain, painted scrolls and fans, sculptures in stone, bronze and wood, and murals. With more than 130 halftone illustrations, including almost eighty in full color, this new edition of Art in China presents the finest one-volume introduction to all forms of Chinese art. The book examines Chinese art in a variety of contexts--as it has been designed for tombs, commissioned by rulers, displayed in temples, created by the men and women of the educated elite, and bought and sold in the marketplace. Drawing on recent innovative scholarship--and newly accessible studies in China itself--Craig Clunas surveys the full spectrum of the visual arts. This updated edition contains expanded coverage of modern and contemporary art, from the fall of the empire in 1911 to the contemporary video art scene. ... Read more

Product Description
A visually stunning tour of the artistic achievements of Asian civilization, Asian Art highlights the greatest works of the Orient.Spanning an eclectic range of imagery, from the aesthetically classic to the intrinsically modern, Asian Art introduces the reader to the subtle beauty of Japanese screen painting, the elegance of Chinese calligraphy and the sensuality of Indian goddesses.The author, an archaeologist, historian and writer, has studied and traveled throughout the Far East.Her choice is an instructive and useful lesson in the finest of those arts, providing us with clear and simple ways to identify them.Sumptuously illustrated, Asian Art deserves a place in every art lover's and collector's library. ... Read more