The Art of East Asia

The Art of East Asia is eloquently and insightfully written and stunningly produced. The authors do an excellent job of bringing the art into the historical and cultural contexts of the time periods when it was produced. The colour photographs are plentiful, large, and beautifully printed -- this is an important point, as black and white photos fail to capture the details of either fine brushwork or three dimensional pieces. This book is a tremendous value; it is far superior to other...
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The Art of East Asia is eloquently and insightfully written and stunningly produced. The authors do an excellent job of bringing the art into the historical and cultural contexts of the time periods when it was produced. The colour photographs are plentiful, large, and beautifully printed -- this is an important point, as black and white photos fail to capture the details of either fine brushwork or three dimensional pieces. This book is a tremendous value; it is far superior to other volumes costing almost twice as much.The entire book is a mine of information complemented by wonderful photographs. It is perhaps the best introduction to an ancient and profound culture. The Japanese and Korean section is a must for any person seriously interested in trying to understand what is a complex and usually inaccessible subject. In particular the masterful text on Japan by Michael Dunn illuminates the often misunderstood area of the overwhelming influence of Zen on Japanese Art.