Japanese Prints

Japanese Prints by Ellis Tinios explores the fascinating world of Japanese woodblock prints from the Edo period (1615-1868). These prints were the products of a highly commercialised and competitive publishing industry, inspired by the vibrant popular culture flourishing in Edo (Tokyo). At any given time, scores of publishers competed for the services of the leading artists of the day.

Publishers and artists displayed tremendous ingenuity in sustaining demand for prints and circumventing the restrictions imposed by government censorship. Although Japanese woodblock prints have long been appreciated in the West for their graphic qualities, their content has not always been fully understood. Recent scholarly publications from Japan, Europe, and the United States have allowed for a more subtle appreciation of the imagery in these prints.

This book draws upon this recent scholarship to explain how the original purchasers might have read these prints. Through stunning new photography of both well-known and rarely published works in the collection of the British Museum, including many recent acquisitions, the author explores how and why such prints were made. Japanese Prints provides a fascinating introduction to a much-loved but little-understood art form.