A rare and exclusive look at Japan as it existed for centuries prior to the modern era! This large-format volume features 283 exquisite albumen silver prints taken by the pioneering British-Italian photographer Felice Beato in the 19th century, many of them hand-coloured by artists working at his Yokohama studio. They offer glimpses of a lost world – from breathtaking landscapes and architectural marvels to scenes of everyday life and the people of Japan during the time of the Shoguns. The images’ hand-colouring lends them a painterly quality reminiscent of traditional nihonga paintings or ukiyo-e woodblock prints. The book includes chapters on Geisha, Samurai, Martial Combat, Tattoos, Arts and Crafts, Landscapes, Cities, Temples and Shrines, as well as stereoscopic images. It is an essential addition to the library of any passionate enthusiast or art historian, and anyone wanting to explore the beauty and complexity of premodern Japan.
