Pictures of the Floating World: An Introduction to Japanese Prints by Sarah E. Thompson

In Edo-period Japan, woodblock prints known as ukiyo-e ("pictures of the floating world") captured the ephemeral fashions and entertainments of urban popular culture and eventually many other subjects as well, from landscape to fantasy. In this book, Sarah E. Thompson, curator of Japanese art at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, provides an overview of the cultural and artistic history of ukiyo-e, showcasing 120 exceptional prints from the museum's world-class collection.