Description
In Praise of Shadows is a luminous essay on Japanese aesthetics that invites you to rethink what beauty means when light is no longer the measure of value. With Tanizaki’s graceful, wide-ranging touch, the book moves through architecture, theater, cookery, and everyday objects to reveal how shadow, patina, and imperfection create depth, dignity, and atmosphere. Rather than chasing bright clarity or airbrushed perfection, it argues for the quiet power of tarnished metal, unglazed pottery, and materials shaped by time and human touch. Part cultural meditation and part gentle warning, this richly illustrated edition pairs the text with carefully chosen images that extend Tanizaki’s central insight: beauty emerges from contrast—one thing against another—especially in the places where darkness holds its own.
Available Editions
paperback
Penguin Random House
Published Jan 1, 2019
128 pages
ISBN: 9781784875572
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Details
First Published
1933
Language
eng
Translation
From: jpn
Content Warnings
No content warnings identified.