Flower, Bird: Traditional Patterns in Japanese Design »

Nobuyoshi Hamada heads his own editorial office, SEIJINSHA, and is the editor of various books in art ranging in dyeing, craftwork, and contemporary art

Flower, Bird is a visual delight featuring the two most beloved motifs in traditional Japanese art. Numerous paintings, textiles, and craft products show practical exercises of the beauty of nature that artists, designers, and creators have captured throughout the seasons. About 200 featured works dating from the sixteenth through the early twentieth century are presented in this hefty little volume. In Japan, the first appearances of bird and flower motifs were heavily influenced by Chinese paintings. Chinese culture was highly respected and favored by Zen priests and feudal lords. These delicate works were coveted as hangings to adorn decorative alcoves in formal sitting rooms. It was this period unique Japanese painting techniques were incorporated into the traditional Chinese style, leading to the creation of what is now a singularly Japanese aesthetic. Contributions from prominent artists such as Jakuchu Ito (seventeenth century) and Kanou school graduates (fifteenth to nineteenth century) further developed the sophisticated Japanese visual arts. This book explores the bird and flower theme as aesthetic expressions of nature throughout the period, and examines the artistry and craftsmanship of the sumptuous ornamentation favored by the feudal class. Also included are reference materials such as preliminary sketches and studies.