Geisha: Beyond the Painted Smile

Book Description
Renowned throughout the world as purveyors of beauty, mystery, and allure, geisha have come to represent the epitome of Japanese elegance and chic. The rich 250-year history of these performance artists is vividly presented in this volume, taking the reader behind the masklike makeup and into the studios where they train and rehearse and the teahouses where they entertain.

Geisha have altered definitions of feminine beauty and identity and are the prevailing icons of Japanese womanhood. Their influence on Japan's decorative arts is documented by their beautiful kimono and hair ornaments and by the musical instruments and fans they use in their performances. The contributors to this book, all prominent specialists on Japanese culture, each consider a particular aspect of geisha tradition and aesthetics, from their music and dance to misperceptions of the profession by foreigners, from the portrayal of geisha as recurring characters in theater and film to profiles of talented women who choose this life and work today. Illustrated with woodblock prints and paintings as well as historical and contemporary photographs, this groundbreaking study also explores the dynamic tension between image and reality in the art of these exquisite entertainers.

Geisha: Beyond the Painted Smile is a comprehensive presentation of geisha culture from its origins nearly three centuries ago to contemporary Japan. Disciplined performance artists of supreme grace and beauty, geisha are unique ambassadors of Japan's traditional culture. 158 color illustrations and photographs.

Geisha: Beyond the Painted Smile,Peabody Essex Museum,George Braziller,0807615455,Anthropology - Cultural,Archaeology / Anthropology,Cultural And Social Anthropology,Customs & Traditions,General,Social Science,Sociology,Sociology Of Women,Women's Studies - General,Women's Studies - History

Nice Books:

1. Gelatin: The B-Thing
2. Gem and Lapidary Materials: For Cutters, Collectors, and Jewelers
3. Gems from the South: Traditional Crafts of Guangdong Province12.4.2002-3.7.2002
4. Gender and Art (Art and Its Histories Series)
5. Gender and the Boundaries of Dress in Contemporary Peru : Gender, Clothing, and Representation in Contemporary Peru (Louann Atkins Temple Women & Culture Series, Bk. 6)
6. Gender Issues in Art Therapy
7. Gendering Orientalism; Race, Femininity and Representation (Gender, Racism, Ethnicity Series)
8. Gene Kloss Etchings
9. General Structures
10. Generations and Geographies in the Visual Arts; Feminist Readings

Nice Books

Recommended Books

1. Handbook of Ancient Greek and Roman Coins
2. Hellboy: Conqueror Worm
3. Buñuel's The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie
4. Apple Pro Training Series: Color Management in Mac OS X
5. Breaking Free : A Prescription for Personal and Organizational Change
6. Astronomy on the Web : A Brief Guide to the Internet
7. Basic Populus Models of Ecology
8. Arbeitsmarkttheorien : Ein Überblick
9. A Tan and Sandy Silence
10. Bad Dog! : A Memoir of Love, Beauty, and Redemption in Dark Places
11. Art Glass: Identification & Price Guide
12. Bathroom Essentials
13. Battle on the Bay : The Civil War Struggle for Galveston
14. Avian Biology
15. Blue Guide Northern Italy: From the Alps to the Adriatic, Twelfth Edition