The Art Of The Japanese Folding Screen

The design of the Japanese folding screen is one of the great art devices in decorative arts. Its history, school of Japanese painting, the artists are explored in this elegant publication wherein the golds, reds and greens reflect as accurately aspossible on the printed page of the actual screens.

Folding screens, known as byôbu in Japanese, are treasures within any museum's collection and are beloved by the general public. This beautiful publication brings together the very finest screens from the world-renowned collections of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Saint Louis Art Museum. The featured works range from an extraordinary pair of landscapes by Sesson Shukei, a Zen-Buddhist monk-painter of the late 16th century, to daring contemporary works from the late 20th century. The first half of the Edo period (1615-1868) is especially well represented, with a dozen screens from the 17th century by such masters as Kano Koi and Tosa Mitsuoki. The contemporary scene is also well covered, with ten examples from the 20th century--proving the longevity of this art form and its currency among modern-day artists. Enlightening essays by important scholars in the field cover topics like the emergence of screens as an art form and a novel discussion of the relationship of Japanese screens to those made in other countries. Distributed for the Art Institute of Chicago Exhibition Schedule: The Art Institute of Chicago (6/26/09-9/27/09) Saint Louis Art Museum (10/18/09-1/3/10)

From its earliest days the Cleveland Museum of Art has demonstrated an active interest in Asian art. An important aspect of this initiative is the interest in the indigenous art of Japan evident in the museum's collection of screens, in which narrative subjects receive emphasis equal to those of the earlier Chinese-dominated tradition. Forty-four Japanese screens (many of them pairs), from the late 15th to the early 19th centuries, represent one of the largest and best collections in the West. This exhibition catalogue illustrates all these extraordinary objects together for the first time, in a generous format and the highest quality reproduction.

Features examples from all styles of Japanese screen painting, ranging from monochrome ink paintings to richly coloured scenes with gold backgrounds

"Folding screens, known as byōbu in Japanese, are treasures within any museum's collection and are beloved by the general public. This beautiful publication brings together the very finest screens from the world-renowned collections of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Saint Louis Art Museum. The featured works range from an extraordinary pair of landscapes by Sesson Shūkei, a Zen-Buddhist monk-painter of the late sixteenth century, to daring works from the late twentieth century. The first half of the Edo period is especially well represented, with a dozen screens from the seventeenth century by Kaihō Yūshō and Tosa Mitsuoki, among other masters. Beyond Golden Clouds also discusses the contemporary scene, with ten examples from the twentieth century proving the longevity of this art form and its currency among modern-day artists. Enlightening essays by important scholars in the field cover topics including the emergence of screens as an art form and a novel discussion of the relationship of Japanese screens to those made in other countries." --

Japanese-style shoji screens are translucent, wooden-lattice panels that subtly transform light and space and add an elegant touch to any decor. This book contains all the information you need to design and make shoji for your own home or apartment. Features: Notes on aesthetics and design fundamentals Complete how-to guide covering basic construction methods, screen materials, and wood selection Home projects, including window inserts, sliding and hanging screens, glass panel shoji, double- and single-sided shoji, skylight shoji, decorative wall boxes, and floor and table lanterns Introduction to Japanese hand tools and planing and joinery techniques Sample lattice patterns, photographs, and line drawings for design and remodeling ideas List of suppliers