New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1884-06-13
NEW PUBLICATIONS.
JAPANESE ART.

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o.seis dss Bsa..r Ar,' ou ySlsi NSwHYcrR; j.
W. Boaton. ,,,,.od
ri. MAGNIFICENT work. OF which only limited
,a,,on has been printed will be studied with great
interest by the lovers of what Is most denca'e al"
most curious in decorative art IL has oeeh pre-
p.rcd with particular care by compeVen'
authority and published with all that atteh,'oh W
a. liner details OF illustration which the subectso
,ehlv deserves. and for which the best French
nrlntna houses have such ample facilities NJ.
conse. Ia brief introduction deprccatcs The sense
,.ss fashion OF initiating Japanese subjects In inc
decoration Of things which have no harmony with
Japancse life and covering our Western croekery'
our walls, and our iewery with incongruouS o'"','e
and misplaced blossoms. But the Japanese y,
declares are the best decorators m the Wofiu' ""N
nv an intelligent study Of their supreme instinct
for harmones we may seek to restore certain
rcptimcnt Of color. decoration. ana htnesS Nh'V"
our art seems 10 have lostlost 80 Tar tha' III 'no
most original creations OF these OrcntalS mere u
.o,,,l,,rg which our vtiatcd tasto cannot compre
hend without an effort Certainly there j. IN tne
host art 81 japan q sincerity, vigor an exquisite
sense Of effect aud despite It's tendency toward the
srote.auc. a sympathy with nature. which NJ
Gousc docs not ovcrrate. "
In this work hc has undertaken q task In which
prcvlous writers ON Japanese arr nave m'u' ho
sermons ESSAYS namely 20 treat the subject from
historical point ~ view, He folioitates hms'h
anon hs good fortune In obtaining the Stance
cf an accomplished Japanese gentleman living IN
Paris. Mr. Tadamasa liayashi who has proved
not only good translator OF the ancient manu-
seripts and other historical documents AZ the 'u
thors dsposii but also man of hne taste, of sch"l
.tship. and If cuthusiasm Ills cooperation mas
enabled NJ Uonso o. give an account OF the rlse anu
,,,,,ess of tho various branches of art in Japan
AL "A survey of tho works and styles oith pfihoi
nal artists That the treatise thns Acquires an
sxceptinnnl value guos without saying f"ltu-
pateiv NJ Gonse hns had access a. Sumo V'l I'n
collections fur the illustration OF his teNtl ana
in ala tho divisions AZ tho work-th" SUI
yey ~ the country. the people All thor h.st"iy'
the chapters on painting architecture sculpture
metal work lacquer. textile fabrics. ceramics nm"
prints -he IL able to represent specimens oil To
mafkahlo beauty and interest; 10 show the strong
eat chnfacter.stics Of cpochs and of individual
workmon. and 20 enforce what hc says IN thc nitro
dneton Of ho essential truth and value Of japanese
art
The spirited cuts scattered In great number
,bruugh the text would alone suffice 60 give l. Ar
Jtponnis" high place among illustrated WORKS
bat especial attention will Do drawn q the full
paeo plates 1T which there are more than slNty IN
ainercnt STYLES Various processes Of polychromhUc
printing have been employed with the happlsl re-
suite 10 Illustrate the Jnpanese sense Of The har
inony of oolors In the department Of ceramics
especially the dchoacy Of the tints and the pericc-
tIou uf The printing are q surprise mad delight
Tqnally charming. perhaps are tho samples OF
.nha. embroidorics and other TISSUES in which the
,oftcsi and most refined shades arc reproduced
On aauarclle Etching lends itself wonderfully 70
the Imitation Of fine metal work, such rs sword
blades and sword ornaments brouzcs, etc. The
gr,ltesluc and often exquisite ngrines called
s,i,lfs arc wildly illustrated by chromolitho-
eraphy, aud tho photographic process Is largely ana
admirably employed.