Chats on Japanese Prints - Arthur Davison Ficke (1917, hardcover)

Description

A superb early 20th-century standard work on Japanese printmaking, executed in a fine blue hardcover with gold stamping and a pasted-in ukiyo-e reproduction. This 1917 first edition is a real collector's item for lovers of Japanese art, Japonism and ukiyo-e.

Chats on Japanese Prints by Arthur Davison Ficke is considered one of the most accessible as well as influential early English-language introductions to the world of Hokusai, Hiroshige, Utamaro, Sharaku and Kiyonaga. The book describes their styles, themes, studios and techniques, showing numerous black-and-white reproductions. Its clear structure and literary character make it a charming classic within Japonism.

This copy shows attractive ageing: warm paper colour, firm binding, a stylish cover with sharp gold printing and light edge wear befitting an edition over a hundred years old. The illustration inserts are well-preserved, with no tears or loose pages. The spine is firm and the bookplate shows normal, even age spots.

Origin & meaning
Ficke (1883-1945) was a leading poet, critic and collector closely involved in the Western revaluation of Japanese printmaking during Japonism. His book was an important source for collectors in the 1910s-1940s and is still appreciated today as an early, aesthetically beautiful and historically relevant study.

Dimensions & condition
Size c. 24 × 17 cm. Hardcover with gold stamping and inserted print panel.
Condition: very good for age - firm binding, light corner wear, even paper tone, a few age spots, illustrations bright and complete.