The Art of Japan (An old and Rare Book)

This fascinating and colourful book provides a concise guide to the HISTORY OF ART IN JAPAN, from the earliest times to the present day. From the cave art of primitive man in Japan, we move to the flowering of art in Japan in UKIYO – E prints of international fame. Whereas the art of painting has been dealt with in greater comprehensive details, progress on other Arts has been briefly, but substantially, described through the ages.

Commencing with the Geographical and Historical background, arts in Far Eastern country JAPAN, have been described, according to the ruling periods. In each ruling period (chapters III-XI), alongwith the progress in the art of painting, Socio Economic culture has been referred to. Chapters XII-XIII have been devoted to the technical aspects of the art of painting; the great masters through different periods, their techniques, important works, their organisation and different ART schools.

The Art of Japan, though maintaining its individuality, influence from outside art was exherted on it; from Turkestan, India, China, Korea and Vis-a Vis the art of Japan greatly influenced the artists of Europe and America, has been shown in Chapter XIV. UKIYO-E prints being the most brilliant, impressive and renowned, technique of Japan, has been described in details, as a specialty in the appendix.

The book will be useful to the students of Art and of History; will be of interest to the artists, art educators, connoisseurs, art galleries, museums, historians and archaeologists.

Dr (Mrs) CHITRALEKHA SINGH, born in 1945, is an artist, a multidimensional personage, art educationist a scholar, a devoted employee, an administrator, a writer of international reputation, a social worker, charming conversationalist and a memorable mimic strict disciplinarian, yet a fountain of compassion and piety. She has the rare distinction of being the first D. Litt in drawing and Painting among women in the world.

She has a brilliant academic career; M.A. First class in Drawing and Painting, specialization in advanced composition; Ph.D (1974) and D. Litt (1989). She has been teaching post graduate classes in Drawing and Painting for the last 27 years. She is an active participant in National/International art Exhibition, art seminars, workshops and faculty activities. She is devoted to research work in the field of art and culture. 28 scholars have been awarded Ph.D. under her guidance. She has published 30 research papers in different ART research journals. Her library 'CHITRALIPI' with rare books, containing over 1,000 books, is open to art scholars, who make a liberal use of it.

A prolific writer, she has published many books; 'PAINT-INGS OF SIVA IN INDIAN ART' (a two-volume classical treatise); 'DRAWINGS OF RAJASTHAN' (Drawing of India series No. 1) and 'ART OF CHINA'. 'ENCYCLOPAEDIC DICTIONARY OF CONTEMPORARY INDIAN ARTISTS' is in the press. She was deputed to Italy by Government of India under Indo Italian Cultural Programme and has been a research associate of University Grants Commission (1984-89).

Her present volume 'THE ART OF JAPAN' is one in the series 'ART OF ASIA', others to follow are 'ART OF CHINA'; 'ART OF IRAN', and other Asian Countries. Her illustrated books on Indian Mythology are 'HINDU GODDESSES'; 'HINDUISM' and 'GANESA' (1995-96); The Great Religions of the World 1997.

Shri PREM NATH, with academic career in medicine, science, and law, is a prolific reader and a writer, who has an inborn love for ART, its study and its history. He has a thorough knowledge of the different techniques and of the artists, as they exist/existed in different countries from time to time. His approach to the subject is scientific, authentic, factual in the background of HISTORY. He has contributed many articles on different aspects of ART to research art journals. He is the co-author of the illustrated books 'CHINI CHITRAKALA' '(HINDI)' HINDU GODDESSES', 'HINDUISM' and 'GANESA'; The Great.