This stunning catalog was originally issued in conjunction with "Gardens, Art, and Commerce in Chinese Woodblock Prints," an exhibition that ran at the Huntington from September 2016 to January 2017.
The exhibition and catalog explore the art, craft, and cultural significance of Chinese woodblock prints made during their golden age, from the late 16th century through the 19th century.
The fully illustrated catalog features contributions by co-curators T. June Li and Suzanne E. Wright.
Li details the origins and provenance of the Huntington’s Ten Bamboo Studio Manual of Calligraphy and Painting, a landmark of multi-block color printing, with particular emphasis on its appeal to 18th- and 19th-century Japanese collectors.
Wright traces the development of three distinct regional styles of woodblock-printed illustrations during the late Ming dynasty, with striking examples of each style drawn from the exhibition. The book includes 154 color illustrations and two maps.