The Complete Commercial Artist: Making Modern Design in Japan, 1928–1930

The visual reproductions of lithographs, set type, posters, labels, magazine covers, advertisements, and signs are of excellent quality, which is imperative. Only a few libraries own a full set of the original series, and this publication makes it accessible to English readers for the first time in nearly a century. ‘The Complete Commercial Artist’ is highly recommended for libraries collecting materials on design, typography and lettering, modern art history, and Japanese art. It is an essential purchase for librarians. – Courtney Stine * ARLIS NA Reviews *
It’s as visually pleasing as it is informative, with displays of burgeoning modernist and avant-garde styles alongside detailed historical analysis. – Olivia Hingley * It’s Nice That *
Far more than a simple reprint, the book is a fascinating read, delving deeply into this unique collection that has long been overlooked in the annals of design history. Through meticulous research, art historian Gennifer Weisenfeld provides a comprehensive historical overview and detailed analysis of each volume, accompanied by a plethora of beautifully reproduced full-color images….For anyone interested in the history of design, commercial art, or Japanese culture in general, Letterform Archive’s latest publication is a fantastic resource. * Inspiration Grid *
An encyclopedic view of the period. The book frames ‘The Complete Commercial Artist”s function as not just a document, but an argument for designs’ future… reintroducing an underappreciated moment in global design history. – Sophie Tolhurst * Creative Review *
This is a priceless treasure of imagery, visual stimuli and inspiration. * typeroom *
The holy grail of graphic design artifacts representing the art deco, or Moderne, period…. When comparing this new version to the original, the printing is so precise it’s impossible to tell which is which…. An informative introductory essay by Gennifer Weisenfeld both explains the role of the commercial artist in Japanese culture and contextualizes graphic style in the critical post-World War I Europe era…. A must for every design library. – Steven Heller * PRINT *