The art worlds of the Edo (1615–1868) and Meiji (1868–1912) periods were vibrant communities full of innovation and transformation. Constant change marks a healthy artistic climate in which artists can flourish. They look to the past for inspiration and to the future to innovate. Changes transform the past into a memory, which can then be modified to suit an artist's or patron's agenda. Contemporary art historical work excavates the past so we can more fully understand the changes that new works of art made within their own historical context.
Three recent books by Japanese art historians address transformations in art during the Edo and early Meiji periods. Morgan Pitelka and Alice Y. Tseng's edited volume Kyoto Visual Culture in the Early Edo and Meiji Periods presents seven papers that look at Kyoto during moments of transitions. Yukio Lippit's edited volume The Artist in Edo offers several perspectives on artists and...
