What is the kimono? Everyday garment? Art object? Symbol of Japan? As Terry Satsuki Milhaupt explains in this book; the kimono has served all of these roles; its meaning changing across time and with the perspective of the wearer or viewer. Kimono: A Modern History traces the transformation of the kimono from everyday garment to national symbol of Japan. It begins by revealing the foundations of the modern kimono fashion industry in the 17th- and 18th-century. With Japanrsquo;s exposure to Western fashion in the 19th century; and Westernersrsquo; contact with distinctive Japanese modes of dress and design; the kimono took on new associations and came to symbolize an exotic culture and an alluring female form. In the aftermath of the Second World War; the kimono industry was sustained through government support. The line between fashion and art became blurred; as kimonos produced by famous designers were collected for their beauty and displayed in museums; rather than being worn as clothing. Today; the kimono has once again taken on new dimensions; as the Internet and social media proliferate images of the kimono as a versatile garment to be integrated into a range of individual styles.Published to accompany the Kimono exhibition at the Metropolitan Museum of Art; New York; commencing in September 2014; Kimono: A Modern History not only tells the story of a distinctive garmentrsquo;s ever-changing functions and image; but provides a novel perspective on Japanrsquo;s modernization and encounter with the West.
#1596898 in eBooks 2015-05-11 2015-06-08File Name: B00OQEA56A
Review
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful. Art Models 2By Ida KotyukHaving worked with live models (both nude and clothed) for over thirty years; the Art Model series 2; 3; and 4 (along with its DVDs); which are the ones I recently own; are the best I have seen of its kind. The authors have bent over backwards to create a reference book on models for artists and I was pleased to find the following:In Art Models 2; the authors focus on classically inspired poses and cite their reference (i.e.; "The Implorer" Rodin; 1900; On Disk: mandy017; and "Torso with a Twist;" A Red Ink study by Michelangelo; circa 1510 Metropolitan Museum of Art; New York; On Disk: jim013. Etc.).In Art Models 3 and 4; the authors: include props (invaluable when an artist has to be sensitive to and understand the dynamics of the slightest muscle shift and its effect on the fulcrum; one grid page and one non-grid page with the same pose (an important aid when something about the image just doesnt look right); 24 angles of the same pose for 360 degree views; and two-model poses which aids in spatial relationships.The series serves exactly what the authors intended; that is; a reference to work from; independently creating (drawing; painting; sculpting) from the suggested poses in the books/CDs. My first choice will always be to work from a live model because cameras lie and distort by reinterpreting what our eyes see. Photographers reinterpret what the camera sees. And the inks necessary for printed publications; again; reinterpret the image tones. As an example; in terms of inches; our feet are larger than our heads. The camera doesnt see this and the feet look suspiciously too small; all the figures are imbued with a luscious warm body tone which in reality our shadow areas; at the turning point; shifts into a slightly cool range. To have everything in a warm tone tends to flatten the image. These are camera and printers ink issues; but; this knowledge is important when planning to please a client.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Not My Best BookBy ReddStealthSome of the poses and models in this book are bland; old; uninteresting; and the womens bodies are not shapely enough and not robust; just flat and pasty. This book is the least of my favorite art books; although there are other volumes you can check out.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Pretty good; could use more interesting lighting.By E.D.This is good because the models stand still. The problem is the lighting is too even. You have to guess a bit on shadows. Its better than some books like this because it isnt all "models" that you would see in fashion magazines. These are more like real people with shapes; forms; musculature; etc.
