Japanische Holzschnitte. 40th Ed.

by Andreas Marks

The Japanese woodblock print is a phenomenon with no Western equivalent, one where breathtaking landscapes exist alongside blush-inducing erotica; where demons and otherworldly creatures torment the living; and where sumo wrestlers, kabuki actors, and courtesans are rock stars. This XXL book lifts the veil on a much-loved but little-understood art, revealing the stories and people behind the 200 most exceptional prints from 1680–1938. Drawing from the finest impressions in museums and private collections around the world, it features the work of 89 artists as well as 17 fold-outs.

Genres: Art, Japan, Nonfiction, History, Reference, Asia, Art History

512 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2022

Reviews

[E. G. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Japanese Woodblock Prints in 200 Masterpieces: From 'Ukiyo-e' to 'Shin Hanga', by Andreas Marks

--I. 1680-1761: The Early Masters
--II. 1765-1783: The Beginning of Full-Colour Printing
--III. 1784-1798: The Golden Age
--IV. 1800-1829: The Response to Censorship
--V. 1830-1852: Peak Production
--VI. 1857-1904: The Last Phase of Traditional Prints
--VII. 1916-1938: Shin Hanga

Editorial Notes
List of Artists and Works
Bibliography
Photo Credits
Acknowledgements
About the Author
Imprint

[Katja · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very good but rather heavy read (and I don't just mean the weight of the book!). The text is filled with a lot of names, many of them very similar. The parts describing trends and changes of different eras were really interesting. The explanations behind each print's picture too but there was a lot of repetition. I get that if you only read on pictures that pique your interest, it'd be ideal to repeat things but reading the whole book, maybe just reference to earlier explanation would've sufficed.
Pictures of course look great, as the book is printed on gloss paper (hence the weight!).

[Reese Derksen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A wonderful archive of masterfully composed prints. Would recommend to anyone interested in Japanese culture or art history.

I greatly appreciated that each piece includes cultural context regarding the artwork—which I would have been lost without. Sometimes it was difficult to keep track of people’s names though, especially when masters would pass on their name to an apprentice.

The small dimensions of the book are understandable, however, things like fine details would likely be much easier to appreciate when viewing the artwork at its original (and often large) size.

[Blagovest Asenov · Rating 5 out of 5]

Probably the best production by Taschen since Giles Néret’s 'Renoir: Painter of Happiness,' particularly in its balance of text and images.

Andreas Marks’s explanations add depth to the astonishing prints, and the short bios are valuable reference points.

As always with Taschen, the images themselves are exquisite.

[Jacob London · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful collection! This is a beautiful collection of some of the most famous Woodblock Prints. Printed on gloss paper makes the pieces really shine. Each print also has a brief explanation along with some biographical remarks on the author. That said, the explanations are often so bland... Did AI write these summaries?? I skimmed them for the important material and moved on. Also, this book is not child friendly! My wife and I plan to cut out some pages to keep away from little kids. We would like our children to enjoy art with us, but not that...

[Nick · Rating 5 out of 5]

For some reason, I can't resist Japanese prints from the golden era of Hokusai and before. They are exotic, and yet familiar in a way that feels like trying to recall a dream. Here are actors, courtesans, ordinary people, wrestlers, courtiers, lovers, demons, warriors, saints, and then the scenery! There's something about the eye for the countryside which particularly evokes a kind of magic. This is a beautiful collection with all the greats represented, beautifully published.

[Jorge · Rating 5 out of 5]

Preciosa galería para entender la impresión xilográfica en Japón y su evolución a través de los siglos, la única pega que le pongo es que a veces las descripciones de según que obras se hace algo repetitiva, pero supongo que es porque no está pensado para leerlo de pe a pa, si no para mirar las ilustraciones que a uno le interesen.

[Siavash.Zia · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are interested in Japanese wood block prints then this book is a great source to know a lot of artists and their art works. As a person who was totally new to this world I learned a lot and enjoyed a lot from this book, and I thank the author and publisher 👍🙏

[Michiel Mestdagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning presentation of a fantastic period of art! Adoration, yes.

[Claire · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some beautiful art here.

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

There is nothing like the beauty of Japanese art.
Our friend Hokusai is of course included.

[Garry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great guide to Japanese woodblock prints and their history.

[Jake Cooper · Rating 4 out of 5]

Five chronological sections, each with a 1-2 page history followed by ~30 representative artworks, factually annotated.