Posted by Alan A. on January 06, 1999 at 14:57:19:
In Reply to: Books on Ukiyo-e posted by Nick Hatcher on January 05, 1999 at 09:11:43:
The book that changed how I looked at ukiyo-e and allowed me to date and understand prints better is Richard Lane's Floating World. It's a big book, and sells on the net for $75 or more, but if you poke around bargain shops you might find a cheaper copy. I recently bought one for a friend for a mere $10.
What's great about Lane's book is its dictionary in the back, which aims to gather together all the facts about ukiyo-e to that time into an easy to use reference. For more specific knowledge, look for more recent books on particular artists or themes. There are plenty available.
Older books are historically interesting, but I think best left avoided at first. Strange and Ficke and Binyon are outdated in many areas, and even Michener is getting old now. Hillier is still pertinent and wonderful though, even his early books.
I'd also avoid most of the small general introduction type books on ukiyo-e. There are a few good ones, but I've been shocked at times at the mistakes self-proclaimed experts can make and still get into print. The small books also deal only in generalities.
Why don't you try your local library first, and buy the reference books that you think will be important?
: I have recently purchased several ukiyo-e prints
: and, apart from what I have been able to glean
: from various web pages, I find that I am in total
: ignorance of the background and meaning behind these beautiful
: pictures. I wonder if any of you regular contributors
: to these pages have any recomendations as to books
: (preferably still in print) that I should try to read
: as a starting point to increasing my knowledge on this
: subject.
: Any suggestions would be gratefully received.