I-90. The Art of the Book in Edo & Meiji Japan, 1615–1912 - Advance Reading List

• Required Readings

  Please read the following books, which provide background for the topics that we will explore in class.

  Guth, Christine. Art of Edo Japan: The Artist and the City, 1615–1868. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 1996 or New Haven: Yale University Press, 2010. This book provides an accessible overview of all the arts of the Edo period.

  Keyes, Roger. Ehon: The Artist and the Book in Japan. New York: New York Public Library, 2006. This beautifully produced book is the best single-volume introduction to Japanese illustrated books available today.

• Suggested Readings

  Meech, Julia and Jane Oliver, eds. Designed for Pleasure: The World of Edo Japan in prints and paintings, 1680–1860. Seattle: University of Washington Press, 2008. While none of the articles in this book deal exclusively or even extensively with books, they provide essential background for our better understanding of the world that produced illustrated books.

  Suzuki Jun and Ellis Tinios. Understanding Japanese Woodblock-Printed Illustrated Books: A Short Introduction to their History, Bibliography and Format. Leiden & Boston: Brill, 2013. This compact, pricey book does what the title says. It is richly illustrated and produced to a high standard.

  If possible, also consult the following, which has long been out of print:

  Hillier, Jack. The Art of the Japanese Book. London: Sotheby’s Publications, 1987. Two volumes. The most comprehensive and important study of Japanese illustrated books in any language; a landmark in the field.