Japanese Art : Critical and Primary Sources

Japanese Art: Critical and Primary Sources is a four-volume reference work offering a critical overview of the history and culture of Japanese art. Drawing upon English-language texts from art history, history and anthropology, the volumes explore the diverse and changing material and visual cultures of Japan from the pre-modern period to the present day.

Over 80 essays from Asia, North America and Europe are assembled in this set and they address four major themes - material cultures (ceramics, textiles, sculpture), visual cultures (painting, calligraphy, decorated screens), printed matter (wood-block prints, books) and the context for Japan's art history (networks of patronage, sites of artistic production and consumption). Each volume is separately introduced and the selected materials are presented chronologically within the four major themes.

Together the four volumes of Japanese Art present a major scholarly resource for the field.