{"title":"Books by Andreas Marks","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"9783836587532","title":"Japanese Woodblock Prints. 45th Ed.","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom \u003cstrong\u003eEdouard Manet\u003c\/strong\u003e’s portrait of naturalist writer \u003cstrong\u003eÉmile Zola\u003c\/strong\u003e sitting among his Japanese art finds to \u003cstrong\u003eVan Gogh\u003c\/strong\u003e’s meticulous copies of the Hiroshige prints he devotedly collected, 19th-century pioneers of European modernism made no secret of their love of Japanese art. In all its \u003cstrong\u003esensuality, freedom, and effervescence\u003c\/strong\u003e, the woodblock print is single-handedly credited with the wave of \u003cem\u003ejaponaiserie\u003c\/em\u003e that first enthralled France and, later, all of Europe—but often remains misunderstood as an “exotic” artifact that helped inspire Western creativity.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The fact is that the Japanese woodblock print is a phenomenon of which \u003cstrong\u003ethere exists no Western equivalent\u003c\/strong\u003e. Some of \u003cstrong\u003ethe most disruptive ideas in modern art\u003c\/strong\u003e—including, as Karl Marx put it, that “all that is solid melts into air”—\u003cstrong\u003ewere invented in Japan in the 1700s \u003c\/strong\u003eand expressed like never before in the designs of such masters as \u003cstrong\u003eHokusai, Utamaro, and Hiroshige \u003c\/strong\u003ein the early 19th century.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e This volume, derived from the original XXL monograph, lifts the veil on a \u003cstrong\u003emuch-loved but little-understood art form\u003c\/strong\u003e by presenting the most exceptional Japanese woodblock prints in their historical context. Ranging from the 17th-century development of decadent \u003cem\u003eukiyo-e\u003c\/em\u003e, or “pictures of the floating world,” to the decline and later resurgence of prints in the early 20th century, the images collected in this edition make up \u003cstrong\u003ean unmatched record not only of a unique genre in art history, but also of the shifting mores and cultural development of Japan\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e From mystical mountains to snowy passes, samurai swordsmen to sex workers in shop windows, each piece is explored as a work of art in its own right, revealing the stories and people behind the motifs. We discover the four pillars of the woodblock print—\u003cstrong\u003ebeauties, actors, landscapes, and bird-and-flower compositions\u003c\/strong\u003e—alongside depictions of\u003cstrong\u003e sumo wrestlers, kabuki actors, or enticing courtesans\u003c\/strong\u003e—rock stars who populated the “floating world” and whose fan bases fueled the frenzied production of woodblock prints. We delve into the horrifying and the obscure in prints where \u003cstrong\u003edemons, ghosts, man-eaters, and otherworldly creatures torment the living\u003c\/strong\u003e—stunning images that continue to influence Japanese manga, film, and video games to this day. We witness how, in their incredible breadth, from everyday scenes to erotica, the martial to the mythological, these works are united by the\u003cstrong\u003e technical mastery and infallible eye of their creators\u003c\/strong\u003e and how, with tremendous ingenuity and tongue-in-cheek wit, publishers and artists alike fought to circumvent government censorship.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e \u003cstrong\u003eAs part of our 40th anniversary series\u003c\/strong\u003e, this edition compiles \u003cstrong\u003ethe finest extant impressions from museums and private collections across the globe\u003c\/strong\u003e in a lightweight, accessible format, offering \u003cstrong\u003eextensive descriptions\u003c\/strong\u003e to guide us through this frantic period in Japanese art history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":43599726608562,"sku":"9783836587532","price":30.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9783836587532_68abcacd-e142-47a5-85ba-5d02fd9c6a93.jpg?v=1786031384"},{"product_id":"9783836596282","title":"Hokusai. Shunga","description":"\u003cp\u003eIf you think you know Hokusai (1760–1849), think again. Long before The Great Wave, the great master turned his hand (and eye) to something altogether more intimate. From maidservants and wives to courtesans, lovers, and curious onlookers – and, yes, an infamous pair of frisky octopuses – Hokusai’s shunga (literally “spring pictures”) are bold, joyful, and often laugh-out-loud funny.This comprehensive portfolio brings together eight complete books and print sets from 1786–1823, with many of their accompanying narratives penned by the artist himself. Blending the visual with the verbal, the pages brim with exaggerated anatomy, impish voyeurism, tender exchanges, and a surprisingly egalitarian attitude to enjoyment for both sexes.In contrast to the prudery of 18th-century Europe, Edo-period (1603–1868) Japan accepted sexuality as a natural part of life. With shunga officially banned but tolerated in practice, many reputable artists navigated government censorship to embrace the genre with gusto, albeit under pseudonyms. These works were made to entertain, to arouse, and even used for good luck – samurai carried them as talismans when going into battle. Technical innovations in printing during Hokusai’s lifetime allowed for rich colours and exquisitely rendered textiles, but the content remained delightfully human: full of risky rendezvous, stolen moments, and scenes of marital (or extra-marital) bliss.\u003cbr\u003eRealized with new photography of these rare works, and complemented by an in-depth introduction and explanatory essays, this retrospective offers gorgeous glimpses into a lesser-known but wildly imaginative thread in Hokusai’s over 70-year career: proof, perhaps, that great masters have their guilty pleasures too.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56309836120437,"sku":"9783836596282","price":100.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9783836596282_6bcfc980-2fe7-439f-8a3c-4c9782653c8b.jpg?v=1786035044"},{"product_id":"9783836575720","title":"Hokusai. Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji","description":"\u003cp\u003eMount Fuji has long been \u003cstrong\u003ea centerpiece of Japanese cultural imagination\u003c\/strong\u003e, and nothing captures this with more virtuosity than the \u003cstrong\u003elandmark woodblock print series \u003cem\u003eThirty-six Views of Mount Fuji\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e by Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849). The renowned printmaker documents 19th-century Japan with exceptional artistry and adoration, celebrating its countryside, cities, people, and serene natural beauty. Produced\u003cstrong\u003e at the peak of Hokusai’s artistic ambition\u003c\/strong\u003e, the series is \u003cstrong\u003ea quintessential work of \u003cem\u003eukiyo-e\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e that earned the artist world-wide recognition as a leading master of his craft.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e The prints illustrate Hokusai’s own obsession with Mount Fuji as well as the flourishing domestic tourism of the late Edo period. Just as the mountain was a cherished view for travelers heading to the capital Edo (now Tokyo) along the Tōkaidō road, \u003cstrong\u003eMount Fuji is the infallible backdrop to each of the series’ unique scenes\u003c\/strong\u003e. Hokusai captures the distinctive landscape and provincial charm of each setting with a \u003cstrong\u003evivid palette \u003c\/strong\u003eand \u003cstrong\u003eexquisite detail\u003c\/strong\u003e. Including the iconic \u003cem\u003eUnder the Great Wave off Kanagawa\u003c\/em\u003e (also\u003cem\u003e The Great Wave\u003c\/em\u003e), this widely celebrated series is \u003cstrong\u003ea treasure of international art history\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003cbr\u003e \u003cbr\u003e Among only a few complete reprints of the series, this \u003cstrong\u003eXXL edition\u003c\/strong\u003e pays homage to Hokusai’s striking colors and compositions with \u003cstrong\u003eunprecedented care and magnitude\u003c\/strong\u003e. Bound in the Japanese tradition with \u003cstrong\u003euncut paper\u003c\/strong\u003e, \u003cem\u003eThirty-six Views of Mount Fuji\u003c\/em\u003e presents the original 36 plates plus the additional 10 later added by the artist. The perfect companion piece to TASCHEN’s \u003cem\u003eOne Hundred Views of Edo\u003c\/em\u003e and \u003cem\u003eThe Sixty-Nine Stations along the Kisokaidō\u003c\/em\u003e, this publication paints an enchanting picture of pre-industrial Japan and is itself\u003cstrong\u003e a stunning monument to the art of woodblock printing\u003c\/strong\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56309867839861,"sku":"9783836575720","price":125.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9783836575720_36c9d31d-40cd-478e-bd9d-e00e20751543.jpg?v=1786032169"},{"product_id":"9783836591881","title":"Hokusai","description":"\u003cp\u003eAt the age of six, Hokusai was said to have painted his first picture, and a year after his death aged 89, his designs for illustrated books were posthumously published.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eTracing a long, prolific career, this edition spans each of the artist’s creative phases: from the actor portraits with which Hokusai started out to the 1,300 designs carried out in his final years under the name Manji. Reproducing 746 woodblock prints, paintings, sketches, and book illustrations, many of them in granular detail, this volume is comfortably the most complete publication on perhaps Japan’s most famous artist. Hokusai’s wide appeal as the recognizable figure of Japan’s Edo period endures to this day: in March 2023, a version of his iconic woodblock print Under the Wave off Kanagawa (or The Great Wave), from his series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji, was auctioned for 2.76 million US dollars.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eLooking far beyond The Great Wave, this monograph features both familiar and lesser known, rarely reprinted artworks. Entitled The (almost) complete Hokusai, it offers an unmatched variety of subjects and techniques: from a landscape of the Kirifuri Waterfall to large-format maps of the Tōkaidō and Kisokaidō roads and the Bōsō Peninsula; spreads of illustrated books, from his sensual, imaginative erotica (shunga) to drawing manuals such as the fifteen-volume Hokusai manga; and several depictions of animals, from his various woodblock print series on birds and flowers to his later hanging scroll paintings of ducks amidst a flowing stream and a tiger suspended in the snow.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eThe result of an extensive campaign of new photography, this edition has sourced images of artworks from over 100 institutions worldwide. These include museums and collections from Europe and the United States to Japan, such as the Hiei Shrine at Kisarazu, where a surviving panel painting of a boar hunt at the foot of Mount Fuji was rephotographed for this edition.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eAccompanying texts by Andreas Marks place Hokusai’s works in historical context, exploring his influence on Western artists such as Degas and Gauguin despite never leaving Japan himself.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCombining rigorous research on the authenticity of Hokusai’s art with extra-large reproductions, including four fold-outs, The (almost) complete Hokusai is both a visual carnival of Edo-period Japan and a significant monograph of scholarly reference.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56309876261237,"sku":"9783836591881","price":175.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9783836591881_55ced3aa-5cf3-4123-8f40-81c7cf4f925e.jpg?v=1786031463"},{"product_id":"9784805313107","title":"Japan Journeys","description":"\u003cb\u003ePresenting classic Japanese woodblock prints, \u003ci\u003eJapan Journeys\u003c\/i\u003e offers a unique perspective on the country's most famous travel destinations.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis stunning art book gathers together approximately two hundred Japanese woodblock prints depicting scenic spots and cultural icons that still delight visitors today. Many of the prints are by masters such as Utagawa Hiroshige, Kitagawa Utamaro, and Utagawa Kunisada, and currently hang in prestigious galleries and museums worldwide. Katsuhika Hokusai, the artform's most celebrated artist, is also well represented, with many prints from his \"Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido Road\" series and \"Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji\" series, including his world-renowned \"Great Wave\" print. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn addition to prints showcasing Japan's natural beauty, this carefully curated selection depicts roads and railways; favorite pastimes, such as blossom viewing and attending festivals; beloved entertainment, such as kabuki theater; the fashions they wore, and the food they ate. Author Andreas Marks is a leading expert on Japanese woodblock prints, and his Illuminating captions provide background context to the scenes depicted.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56309896085877,"sku":"9784805313107","price":17.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9784805313107_a0bb047d-972e-44de-8f86-457ba01cfbf8.jpg?v=1786031667"},{"product_id":"9783836585545","title":"Japanese Woodblock Prints","description":"\u003cp\u003eFrom Edouard Manet’s portrait of naturalist writer Émile Zola sitting among his Japanese art finds to Van Gogh’s meticulous copies of the Hiroshige prints he devotedly collected, 19th-century pioneers of European modernism made no secret of their love of Japanese art. In all its sensuality, freedom, and effervescence, the woodblock print is single-handedly credited with the wave of japonaiserie that first enthralled France and, later, all of Europe—but often remains misunderstood as an “exotic” artifact that helped inspire Western creativity.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe fact is that the Japanese woodblock print is a phenomenon of which there exists no Western equivalent. Some of the most disruptive ideas in modern art—including, as Karl Marx put it, that “all that is solid melts into air”—were invented in Japan in the 1700s and expressed like never before in the designs of such masters as Hokusai, Utamaro, and Hiroshige in the early 19th century.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis volume lifts the veil on a much-loved but little-understood art form by presenting the most exceptional Japanese woodblock prints in their historical context. Ranging from the 17th-century development of decadent ukiyo-e, or “pictures of the floating world,” to the decline and later resurgence of prints in the early 20th century, the images collected in this edition make up a record not only of a unique genre in art history, but also of the shifting mores and cultural development of Japan.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWe discover the four pillars of the woodblock print—beauties, actors, landscapes, and bird-and-flower compositions—alongside depictions of sumo wrestlers, kabuki actors, or enticing courtesans—rock stars who populated the “floating world” and whose fan bases fueled the frenzied production of woodblock prints. We delve into the horrifying and the obscure in prints where demons, ghosts, and otherworldly creatures torment the living—stunning images that continue to influence Japanese manga, film, and video games to this day. We witness how, in their incredible breadth, from everyday scenes to erotica, the martial to the mythological, these works are united by the technical mastery and infallible eye of their creators and how, with tremendous ingenuity and tongue-in-cheek wit, publishers and artists alike fought to circumvent government censorship.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis edition compiles the finest extant impressions from museums and private collections across the globe, accompanied by descriptions to guide us through this frantic period in Japanese art history.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56310830039413,"sku":"9783836585545","price":18.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9783836585545_1c2628f3-d317-4142-8be7-5aaff01a050d.jpg?v=1786035011"},{"product_id":"9784805317716","title":"Hiroshige's One Hundred Famous Views of Edo","description":"\u003cb\u003e\"A feast for the eyes…the most complete volume you're ever likely to find about Hiroshige's monumental masterwork […] [A] rare compendium.\" —\u003ci\u003eThe Japan Times\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eA landmark book presenting the early \"deluxe\" versions of Hiroshige's Edo prints for the first time!\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eUtagawa Hiroshige's unique landscape series \u003ci\u003eOne Hundred Famous Views of Edo\u003c\/i\u003e (modern-day Tokyo), first published in the 1850s, is among the best-known collections of Japanese prints and was revolutionary in its day. Individual prints from this collection are regarded as among the finest works in all of Japanese art.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this series, Hiroshige captures 118 locations in and around Edo, today's Tokyo, during all four seasons and often from hitherto unknown and unique perspectives. These views were first printed in exquisite luxury versions, incorporating innovative woodblock printing features like color gradation. No complete set of the early versions exists today and this is the first book to present a complete set of the deluxe early printings, sourced from 32 different museums and private collections.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAuthor Andreas Marks consulted 4,700 prints in order to compile this definitive guide to Hiroshige's \u003ci\u003eOne Hundred Famous Views of Edo.\u003c\/i\u003e  Marks presents the various printed versions along with reference images showing how and where Hiroshige sourced his ideas for each view—from previous books and illustrations. The result is a definitive guide to understanding the complexity of Hiroshige's great work as well as the dynamics of the Japanese print market during this period.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMarks' introduction discusses the genesis of the series in the context of Japanese landscape art as well as Hiroshige's personal biography. The book then presents all 118 prints together with their source materials and a map showing the locations of each view, followed by a detailed appendix discussing the great color variations found in subsequent printings of the series.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56311105683829,"sku":"9784805317716","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9784805317716_ccb2ccdc-dc40-4a5f-9558-9cac26d5458d.jpg?v=1786031946"},{"product_id":"9789493039988","title":"Hiroshige","description":"\u003cb\u003eHiroshige. Nature and the City is the most extensive overview of the career of the famed Japanese print artist, Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) in the English language to date.\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eHiroshige. Nature and the City\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e is the most extensive overview of the career of the famed Japanese print artist, Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) in the English language to date. It is based on the largest collection of Hiroshige in private hands outside Japan, the Alan Medaugh collection. The catalogue consists of 500 entries, with an emphasis on urban and rural landscapes, fan prints and prints of birds and flowers. Grouped chronologically by subject, it presents Hiroshige’s interpretation of the urban scenes from his hometown Edo (present-day Tokyo), the great series documenting travel along the famous highways of Japan, and the idylls of nature as represented in his bird-and flower prints. Hiroshige often incorporated poetry in his works and for the first time all textual content is transcribed and translated. Additionally, the catalog pays due attention to the differences between variant editions of his prints. Thus, it provides essential comparative material for every scholar, dealer, and collector.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56311318643061,"sku":"9789493039988","price":65.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9789493039988_e2fa8f44-3862-480e-8b40-51c6b1032e0f.jpg?v=1786033034"},{"product_id":"9783754403150","title":"Hokusai. Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji","description":"\u003cp\u003eMount Fuji has long been a centerpiece of Japanese cultural imagination, and nothing captures this with more virtuosity than the landmark woodblock print series Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji by Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849). The renowned printmaker documents 19th-century Japan with exceptional artistry and adoration, celebrating its countryside, cities, people, and serene natural beauty. Produced at the peak of Hokusai’s artistic ambition, the series is a quintessential work of ukiyo-e that earned the artist world-wide recognition as a leading master of his craft.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe prints illustrate Hokusai’s own obsession with Mount Fuji as well as the flourishing domestic tourism of the late Edo period. Just as the mountain was a cherished view for travelers heading to the capital Edo (now Tokyo) along the Tōkaidō road, Mount Fuji is the infallible backdrop to each of the series’ unique scenes. Hokusai captures the distinctive landscape and provincial charm of each setting with a vivid palette and exquisite detail. Including the iconic Under the Great Wave off Kanagawa (also The Great Wave), this widely celebrated series is a treasure of international art history.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAmong only a few complete reprints of the series, this XL edition pays homage to Hokusai’s striking colors and compositions with unprecedented care and magnitude. Bound in the Japanese tradition, Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji presents the original 36 plates plus the additional 10 later added by the artist. The perfect companion piece to TASCHEN’s One Hundred Views of Edo and The Sixty-Nine Stations along the Kisokaidō, this publication paints an enchanting picture of pre-industrial Japan and is itself a stunning monument to the art of woodblock printing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368287482229,"sku":"9783754403150","price":60.0,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9783754403150_0c5bc555-48e3-49eb-927d-95d8d3b5f8a2.jpg?v=1786031921"},{"product_id":"9784805319017","title":"Japan's Manga Revolution","description":"\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003eWhy are Japanese manga now sweeping the globe and how did they develop?\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eIn this unique survey, art historian Andreas Marks presents a fascinating account of the development of Japanese illustrated books in premodern times. Beginning in the 17th century, Japanese publishers were producing thousands of popular illustrated titles on topics ranging from religion and poetry to celebrated beauties, famous kabuki actors, farting warriors and adventure tales. This was the start of the revolution in book production that has produced today's Japanese manga and comics! \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eMarks describes the evolution of Japanese illustrated books though 5 key examples, including:\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eKitagawa Utamaro's Picture Book of Crawling Creatures\u003c\/i\u003e (1788) — a celebrated picture book with exquisitely-drawn plants and creatures alongside poetry\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eHokusai's Sketchbooks\u003c\/i\u003e, published in the early 1800s, containing hundreds of innovative drawing and design ideas from the great artist Katsushika Hokusai—ideas that inspired many famous European artists! \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe New Illustrated Water Margin\u003c\/i\u003e, an adaptation of a Chinese novel about a band of fictional heroes with superpowers, illustrated by Hokusai—who created an exotic new vision of the world for this tale! \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eThe Tale of Shiranui\u003c\/i\u003e, an adventure novel in serialized form published over sixty years starting in 1849\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe landmark early-20th century \u003ci\u003eCurrent Affairs Manga\u003c\/i\u003e which was the first periodical to use the word \"manga\" in its title and provided illustrated commentaries on contemporary political affairs\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eJapan's Illustrated Book Revolution\u003c\/i\u003e is the first comprehensive overview of the unique illustrated storytelling forms that developed in Japan—considered by many to be Japan's major contribution to world culture.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":56368292397429,"sku":"9784805319017","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9784805319017_ac59f337-581d-4b65-b689-d0f707fdba3e.jpg?v=1786032023"},{"product_id":"the-art-and-life-of-fukuda-kodojin","title":"The Art and Life of Fukuda Kodojin","description":null,"brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57492399063413,"sku":"9784805317778","price":34.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9784805317778.jpg?v=1786529238"},{"product_id":"samurai-the-greatest-battles-and-warriors","title":"Samurai, The Greatest Battles and Warriors in Japanese Art","description":"An exciting visual record of the greatest battles and warriors in Japanese history!This groundbreaking book traces the decisive battles of Japanese history and the legendary samurai who fought them, brought vividly to life through more than 300 masterworks by artists such as Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, Tsukioka Yoshitoshi and many others. Art historian Andreas Marks has scoured museum archives and private collections around the world to assemble the stunning prints and folded screen paintings that capture the dramatic events and towering personalities that shaped Japan as a nation.   Marks includes descriptions and striking visual images of 80 great warriors and over 50 battles, including:The Sea Battle at Dannoura (1185): The final battle of the Genpei War, in which Minamoto forces led by Yoshitsune defeated the Taira fleet led by Tomomori. Emperor Antoku and many Taira committed suicide, spelling an end to the clan and ushering in the Kamakura shogunate.   The Battle of Okehazama (1560): A decisive battle where Oda Nobunaga's samurai were outnumbered but managed to defeat Imagawa Yoshimoto's larger army. This victory was achieved through a surprise attack in driving rain and led to the final downfall of the Imagawa clan in the Tokai region.   The Battle of Nagashino (1575): Tokugawa Ieyasu and Oda Nobunaga unite to defeat Takeda Katsuyori. They employ innovative tactics, revolutionizing Japanese warfare to secure a decisive victory against the formidable Takeda clan.   The Battle of Sekigahara (1600): The greatest and bloodiest battle in Japanese history, in which Tokugawa Ieyasu's Eastern Army defeated the Toyotomi clan's Western Army, leading to the establishment of the Tokugawa Shogunate which unified and ruled Japan for over 250 years.   This richly-illustrated volume will be of huge interest to military history buffs and fans of the Emmy award-winning Shogun TV series, providing coverage of the epic battles, weaponry and armor to be featured in the upcoming 2027 and 2028 seasons.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57510248415605,"sku":"9784805320327","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9784805320327.jpg?v=1787130587"},{"product_id":"breaking-tradition","title":"Breaking Tradition","description":"A stunning survey of the avant-garde in Japanese ceramics from 1948 to 1990, from renowned art historian Andreas Marks.   For many Japanese artists, the process of conceptualizing and producing artwork underwent fundamental change after the end of World War II in 1945. The long-standing emphasis on continuity, as was embedded for centuries in traditional media, formats, and hereditary lineages, was rejected by some in favor of a radical new approach, particularly within the field of ceramics. The emergence of an avant-garde and a formal pursuit of innovation can be traced across multiple media. One significant development was the shift by certain artists toward the creation of sculptural forms rather than functional objects.   In 1948, a group of five ceramic artists, including Yagi Kazuo (1918-1979), Yamada Hikaru (1923-2001), and Suzuki Osamu (1926-2001), founded Sodeisha—literally, the Crawling through Mud Association. The group remained active until 1998. While more than 60 artists were associated with Sodeisha over time, not all ceramic artists pursuing innovative sculptural work chose to join. Artists such as Kawamoto Goro (1919-1986) and Morino Taimei (born 1934) worked independently, developing distinct artistic paths.   Individualism remains a defining characteristic of contemporary Japanese ceramics. This volume examines the origins of that shift by presenting works created before 1990 by both independent artists and members of Sodeisha, tracing the early rupture with established ceramic traditions.","brand":"Gardners","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57510259130741,"sku":"9784805320792","price":24.99,"currency_code":"GBP","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0612\/7193\/3106\/files\/9784805320792.jpg?v=1787130599"}],"url":"https:\/\/backstory.london\/collections\/author-andreas-marks.oembed","provider":"Backstory","version":"1.0","type":"link"}