The exquisite, colorful Japanese woodblock prints that represent the art of Ukiyo-e first flourished in 17th-century Edo (now Tokyo). Today these "pictures of the floating world" are the most popular form of Japanese art. This elegant book takes a fresh look at Ukiyo-e, showcasing a never-before-published trove of Japanese prints, drawings, and books from the collection of the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. Known masterpieces by such names as Hiroshige and Hokusai stand alongside rare and unusual works. Colors are exceptionally vivid, in part because the art has never been exhibited and is rarely handled. The beauty of the book will delight art lovers, while the cutting-edge scholarship and unusually comprehensive bibliography will also excite the specialist and collector. 160 illustrations in full color, 232 pages, 9 x 11"September