The Arts of Japan: Creativity and Innovation - Paperback

by Brenda G. Jordan (Author)

This exciting new volume focuses on the arts of Japan through the lens of creativity and innovation, drawing on current scholarship in the field and providing some historical context for developments over time. Despite a deep respect for tradition, Japanese artists also process and restructure ideas and technologies from abroad to develop entirely new styles and techniques. Certain themes crop up repeatedly, such as a heightened attention to nature and the seasons; humor and satire; and a fascination with the mysterious and strange (ghosts, demons, tricksters). This book is intended to tease out some of these creative and innovative moments in the history of Japanese art and provide the reader with a solid foundation from which to learn more.

Author Biography

Brenda G. Jordan is a Japanese art historian specializing in Tokugawa-period paintings and woodblock prints. From 2008 to 2025, she was Director of the University of Pittsburgh's coordinating site for the National Consortium for Teaching About Asia (NCTA).