On the Laws of Japanese Painting

by Henry Pike Bowie

On the Laws of Japanese Painting by Bowie, Henry P.

Genres: Art, Reference, Nonfiction, Japan

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

About the author

d. 1920

Reviews

[James · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in 1911, it's a bit archaic though well illustrated for a book of this time. I feel there is better, more modern versions of this by Japanese authors. Of the top of my head, Shozo Sato books on painting cover these quite well.

Now available from Project Gutenberg so I don't need a paper copy.

[Morris Nelms · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good information. Probably a bit dated. I think a paperback or hardback version with bigger and clearer illustrations would be a better choice for this book.
I think he sort of contradicts himself. In one place he says knowledge of kanji (Chinese characters written with a brush) is fundamental to Japanese painting. In another place he says it is a mistake so see Japanese art as based on Japanese calligraphy. I think what he means is that the calligraphy teaches you how to use the brush, but in painting you have more freedom. However, he doesn't make that clear.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked it