In Praise Of Shadows - Softcover
A fully illustrated, beautifully produced edition of Junichiro Tanizaki's wise and evocative essay on Japanese culture.
‘We find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of shadows, the light and the darkness, that one thing against another creates... Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty.’
The slim book you are holding is in fact a portal. Opening it, you will be led by Junichiro Tanizaki’s light touch into a mysterious and tranquil world of darkness and shadows, where gold flashes in the gloom and a deep stillness reigns. If you are accustomed to equate light with clarity, the faded with the worthless and the dim with the dreary, prepare for a courteous but powerful realignment of your ideas.
In Praise of Shadows is a poetic paean to traditional Japanese aesthetics – in a free-ranging style that moves from architecture to No theatre, and from cookery to lighting, Tanizaki teaches us to see the beauty in tarnished metal, the sombre dignity in unglazed pottery, the primacy of organic materials that bear witness to the regular touch of human hands. It is also astonishingly prescient, offering a gentle warning against the quest for airbrushed perfection, and reminding us that too much light can pollute and obscure our natural world.
In this special edition, the text is accompanied by images, carefully chosen by Vintage Creative Director Suzanne Dean, to complement Tanizaki’s reflections and further illustrate the pattern and beauty of shadows.
‘We find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of shadows, the light and the darkness, that one thing against another creates... Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty.’
The slim book you are holding is in fact a portal. Opening it, you will be led by Junichiro Tanizaki’s light touch into a mysterious and tranquil world of darkness and shadows, where gold flashes in the gloom and a deep stillness reigns. If you are accustomed to equate light with clarity, the faded with the worthless and the dim with the dreary, prepare for a courteous but powerful realignment of your ideas.
In Praise of Shadows is a poetic paean to traditional Japanese aesthetics – in a free-ranging style that moves from architecture to No theatre, and from cookery to lighting, Tanizaki teaches us to see the beauty in tarnished metal, the sombre dignity in unglazed pottery, the primacy of organic materials that bear witness to the regular touch of human hands. It is also astonishingly prescient, offering a gentle warning against the quest for airbrushed perfection, and reminding us that too much light can pollute and obscure our natural world.
In this special edition, the text is accompanied by images, carefully chosen by Vintage Creative Director Suzanne Dean, to complement Tanizaki’s reflections and further illustrate the pattern and beauty of shadows.
"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.
- PublisherVintage Classics
- Publication date2019
- ISBN 10 1784875570
- ISBN 13 9781784875572
- BindingPaperback
- Number of pages128
- Rating
Buy New
Learn more about this copy
US$ 16.44
Shipping:
US$ 2.64
Within U.S.A.
Top Search Results from the AbeBooks Marketplace
Seller Image
In Praise of Shadows
Published by
Vintage Classics
(2019)
ISBN 10: 1784875570
ISBN 13: 9781784875572
New
Softcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 36724686-n
Buy New
US$ 16.44
Convert currency
Seller Image
In Praise of Shadows (Paperback)
Published by
Vintage Publishing, London
(2019)
ISBN 10: 1784875570
ISBN 13: 9781784875572
New
Paperback
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: new. Paperback. A fully illustrated, beautifully produced edition of Junichiro Tanizaki's wise and evocative essay on Japanese culture. 'We find beauty not in the thing itself but in the patterns of shadows, the light and the darkness, that one thing against another creates. Were it not for shadows, there would be no beauty.' This book is in fact a portal. Reading it, you will be led by Junichiro Tanizaki's light touch into a mysterious and tranquil world of darkness and shadows, where gold flashes in the gloom and a deep stillness reigns. If you are accustomed to equate light with clarity, the faded with the worthless and the dim with the dreary, prepare for a courteous but powerful realignment of your ideas. In Praise of Shadows is a poetic paean to traditional Japanese aesthetics - in a free-ranging style that moves from architecture to No theatre, and from cookery to lighting, Tanizaki teaches us to see the beauty in tarnished metal, the sombre dignity in unglazed pottery, the primacy of organic materials that bear witness to the regular touch of human hands. It is also astonishingly prescient, offering a gentle warning against the quest for airbrushed perfection, and reminding us that too much light can pollute and obscure our natural world. In this special edition, the text is accompanied by specially selected images to complement Tanizaki's reflections and further illustrate the pattern and beauty of shadows. Reading it, you will be led by Junichiro Tanizaki's light touch into a mysterious and tranquil world of darkness and shadows, where gold flashes in the gloom and a deep stillness reigns. Shipping may be from multiple locations in the US or from the UK, depending on stock availability. Seller Inventory # 9781784875572
Buy New
US$ 19.09
Convert currency
Stock Image
In Praise of Shadows
Published by
Random House 2019-11-07, London
(2019)
ISBN 10: 1784875570
ISBN 13: 9781784875572
New
paperback
Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Rating
Book Description paperback. Condition: New. Language: ENG. Seller Inventory # 9781784875572
Buy New
US$ 13.62
Convert currency
Seller Image
In Praise Of Shadows [Soft Cover ]
Published by
Vintage Classics
(2019)
ISBN 10: 1784875570
ISBN 13: 9781784875572
New
Soft Cover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Soft Cover. Condition: new. Seller Inventory # 9781784875572
Buy New
US$ 21.08
Convert currency
Stock Image
In Praise of Shadows: Vintage Design Edition
Published by
Vintage Publishing
(2019)
ISBN 10: 1784875570
ISBN 13: 9781784875572
New
Softcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 9781784875572
Buy New
US$ 14.31
Convert currency
Stock Image
In Praise of Shadows: Vintage Design Edition
Published by
Vintage Publishing
(2019)
ISBN 10: 1784875570
ISBN 13: 9781784875572
New
Softcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. Seller Inventory # 9781784875572
Buy New
US$ 14.02
Convert currency
Stock Image
In Praise of Shadows: Vintage Design Edition
Published by
Vintage Classics
(2019)
ISBN 10: 1784875570
ISBN 13: 9781784875572
New
Paperback
Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback. Condition: New. BRAND NEW ** SUPER FAST SHIPPING FROM UK WAREHOUSE ** 30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE. Seller Inventory # 9781784875572-GDR
Buy New
US$ 14.55
Convert currency
Stock Image
In Praise Of Shadows
Published by
Vintage Classics
(2019)
ISBN 10: 1784875570
ISBN 13: 9781784875572
New
Softcover
Quantity: 1
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. pp. 128. Seller Inventory # 26379086243
Buy New
US$ 23.67
Convert currency
Stock Image
In Praise Of Shadows
Published by
Vintage Classics
(2019)
ISBN 10: 1784875570
ISBN 13: 9781784875572
New
Softcover
Quantity: > 20
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Condition: New. In. Seller Inventory # ria9781784875572_new
Buy New
US$ 15.21
Convert currency
Stock Image
In Praise of Shadows
Published by
Vintage Publishing
(2019)
ISBN 10: 1784875570
ISBN 13: 9781784875572
New
Paperback / softback
Quantity: 10
Seller:
Rating
Book Description Paperback / softback. Condition: New. This item is printed on demand. New copy - Usually dispatched within 5-9 working days. Seller Inventory # C9781784875572
Buy New
US$ 16.82
Convert currency