{"title":"Julie Nelson Davis","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eJulie Nelson Davis\u003c\/strong\u003e offers a captivating exploration of arts and culture, delving into the intersections of visual beauty and historical context. Her work, such as \u003cem\u003eUtamaro and the Spectacle of Beauty\u003c\/em\u003e, reveals the intricate relationship between artistic expression and societal perceptions, enriching readers’ understanding of cultural aesthetics.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eReaders can expect deeply researched narratives that illuminate the power of art in shaping identity and experience. Davis’s writing blends scholarly insight with accessible prose, inviting both enthusiasts and newcomers to appreciate the enduring impact of creative traditions.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"utamaro-and-the-spectacle-of-beauty-by-julie-nelson-davis-9781789142358","title":"Utamaro and the Spectacle of Beauty","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"book-description\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eJapanese artist Kitagawa Utamaro (1753–1806) was one of the most influential artists working in the genre of ukiyo-e, 'pictures of the floating world,' in late eighteenth-century Japan, and was widely appreciated for his prints of beautiful women.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn 1804, at the height of his success, Utamaro published a set of prints related to a banned historical novel. The prints, titled \u003ci\u003eHideyoshi and his Five Concubines\u003c\/i\u003e, depicted the military ruler Toyotomi Hideyoshi's wife and concubines. Consequently, he was accused of insulting Hideyoshi's dignity. Utamaro was sentenced to be handcuffed for fifty days and is thought to have been briefly imprisoned. According to some sources, the experience crushed him emotionally and ended his career as an artist.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eIn this new expanded edition, Julie Nelson Davis draws on a wide range of period sources, makes a close study of selected print sets, and reinterprets Utamaro in the context of his times. Reconstructing the place of the ukiyo-e artist within the commercial print market, she demonstrates how Utamaro's images participated in a larger spectacle of beauty in the city of Edo (present-day Tokyo).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"NewSouth Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":47601140236524,"sku":"9781789142358","price":64.99,"currency_code":"NZD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0705\/7784\/8556\/files\/9781789142358-utamaro-and-the-spectacle-of-beauty.jpg?v=1777995236"}],"url":"https:\/\/bookhero.co.nz\/collections\/julie-nelson-davis.oembed","provider":"Book Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}