Japanese art was virtually unknown in the West until the middle of the nineteenth century, when the island nation emerged from 200 years of self-imposed isolation. A passion for Japanese culture swept Europe, and this landmark publication opened the eyes of the world to the grace and beauty of Japanese design. George Ashdown Audsley, a leader in the revival of English decorative design and one of the first Britons to specialize in Japanese art, assembled this outstanding collection. Featuring 60 full-color plates, it offers spectacular examples of Japanese painting, printing, embroidery, lacquer work, and cloisonn