Fashion and the Floating World: Japanese ukiyo-e Prints

(Hardback)

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Description

This sumptuous book explores the important role that woodblock prints played in the fashionable world of Edo-period Japan (16031868). 140 ukiyo-e pictures of the floating world offer us a vivid view of the culture of entertainment, style and glamour that developed in bustling urban centres. Expert curators bring to life the scenes and figures depicted, and highlight the fashions, dress accessories and hairstyles shown in these colourful and compelling images by artists such as Utagawa Kunisada and Utagawa Hiroshige. Benefitting from the V&As world-leading collection and including many rarely seen prints, this is a fascinating glimpse into an exciting world of celebrity actors, courtesans, geisha, kimono retailers, fabric workshops, makeup brands, theatre managers, brothel keepers and restaurant owners.

Author Bio

Anna Jackson is Deputy Keeper of the V&A's Asian Department. She co-curated Encounters: the Meeting of Asia and Europe 1500-1800 with Amin Jaffer and co-edited the accompanying book (V&A 2004). She is also the author of Japanese Textiles (V&A 2000) and EXPO (V&A 2008) and a contributor to Art Deco (V&A 2003). Amin Jaffer is International Director of Asian Art at Christie's. He was previously Senior Curator in the V&A's Asian Department and is the author of Furniture from British India and Ceylon (V&A 2001) and Made for Maharajas (2006).