Tadashi Kobayashi

A shame this is out of print. The essays throughout are very informative and written to appeal to artists, historians, and collectors alike. The general tone is scholarly but accessible. The "catalog" section that proceeds has some interesting discussion of individual works as well, but the reproductions are mere thumbnails compared to some of the more lavish prints contained in the individual essays. The index includes photo reproductions of artists' seals and a thorough chronology. I came away from this book with a much deeper appreciation for the Edo period, and the rich variety of schools/styles (beyond the better known ukiyo-e) that flourished on into the Meiji. Wish I hadn't waited 7 years to finally track this down...
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