Japanese Art and Design

by Greg Irvine (editor)

Presented here are some of the world’s finest examples of Japanese art and design, from the Samurai and Edo periods up to high-tech contemporary design. The V&A has acquired Japanese objects since its earliest years and played a significant role in bringing the art of Japan to the attention of designers, manufacturers, and the public. This tradition continues today and this new book, fully updated and revised, showcases the V&A’s unparalleled collection. Ten chapters focus on subjects such as religion and ritual; military and aristocratic culture; the samurai; the highly aestheticized tea ceremony; Ukiyo-e and the graphic arts of the Edo period; and exchanges with the West and imperialism, right up to contemporary crafts and design.

240 pages, Hardcover

First published November 17, 2015

Reviews

[A O · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting, well some chapters more than others (they’re written by different authors), couldn’t finish the chapter on samuri. A good introduction to the V&A’s Japanese art and objects, however, although it assumes you know nothing about Japanese culture, it leaves out important descriptions which is frustrating. Also, there’s no way of knowing what words are in the glossary until you read it, they’re not signposted or bolded in text as they would be in most books. I assumed the notes for each chapter would be at the end of the chapter but they are actually at the end of the book which isn’t that obvious when you’re going through. Maybe just me but… shouldn’t the bibliography be complete or not at all? Is it not slightly strange/random to have a “Select Bibliography”?