Japanese Woodblock Prints

Japanese woodblock prints, or ukiyo-e, are the most recognizable Japanese art form. Their massive popularity has spread from Japan to be embraced by a worldwide audience. Covering the period from the beginning of the Japanese woodblock print in the 1680s until the year 1900, Japanese Woodblock Prints provides a detailed survey of all the famous ukiyo-e artists, along with over 500 full-color prints.

Unlike previous examinations of this art form, Japanese Woodblock Prints includes detailed histories of the publishers of woodblock prints--who were often the driving force determining which prints, and therefore which artists, would make it into mass circulation for a chance at critical and popular success. Invaluable as a guide for ukiyo-e enthusiasts looking for detailed information about their favorite Japanese woodblock print artists and prints, it is also an ideal introduction for newcomers to the world of the woodblock print. This lavishly illustrated book will be a valued addition to the libraries of scholars, as well as the general art enthusiast.
Covering the period from the beginning of the Japanese woodblock print in the 1680s until the year 1900, "Japanese Woodblock Prints" provides a detailed survey of all the major artists, along with the images on which their fame rests.
"Marks provides the kind of concrete biographical details that most art historical treatments, more focused on style, genre, and influences, would pass over. And, besides, even for a minor artist like Eizan, we're given five full-color images of examples of his work, one of them a full-page illustration, giving us a sense at a glance of his style--we don't need it described out in lengthy paragraphs. So, in this way, I do think that Marks' book is a wealth of knowledge, a real deep, solid, source to consult for names and dates and the like, a true compendium of artists. The fact that Marks includes publishers at all is also fairly revolutionary, since 'traditional' scholarship on ukiyo-e has always focused on artists almost exclusively, elevating them, and all but ignoring publishers and others involved in the process." --Nubui Kuduchi blog
"Marks's (director & chief curator, Clark Ctr. for Japanese Art) clear, informative text, while valuable for scholars beginning research, also remains accessible to the average reader. With excellent production values and a modest price, this volume is recommended for all libraries, academic and public." --Library Journal
"The meticulous organization of information notwithstanding, it is the prints which are the chief pleasure of the book: 523 prints that bring to life a Japan of heroic tales, beautiful women, ghosts, warriors, demons, and spring cherry blossoms. The exuberance of color, motion, and expression, all carefully arranged, make this a book for scholars and browsers, serious collectors and hedonists alike." --ForeWord Reviews
"The presentation is practically all-inclusive, covering artists and publishers from the 1660s to the 1940s. Impeccably researched with an exhaustive bibliography, this is a work that demonstrates the highest level of scholarly achievement." --CHOICE: Current Reviews for Academic Libraries
"This is a beautiful book, and the publisher section makes it stand out [ ... ] as a valuable guide for print identification." --Wood Block Dreams blog