"In Praise of Shadows" is an essay written by Jun'ichirō Tanizaki, a Japanese novelist and essayist. The essay was first published in 1933 and has since become a classic of Japanese literature. The essay is a meditation on the aesthetics of traditional Japanese culture, focusing on the beauty of shadows, darkness, and imperfection.
In the essay, Tanizaki contrasts the aesthetics of traditional Japanese culture with those of the modern Western world. He argues that Western culture values bright light, cleanliness, and perfection, while Japanese culture values shadows, dimness, and the natural beauty of aging and decay. Tanizaki sees the appreciation of shadows and imperfection as a key aspect of Japanese culture, and he believes that it is this appreciation that gives Japanese art and architecture its unique beauty.
Tanizaki's writing is poetic and contemplative, and his descriptions of the beauty of shadows and the play of light and darkness are vivid and evocative. His essay is a celebration of the subtle and understated beauty of traditional Japanese culture, and it is also a critique of the modernization and industrialization that he sees as threatening that culture.
"In Praise of Shadows" has become a beloved classic of Japanese literature and a source of inspiration for artists and designers around the world. It is a testament to the enduring power of traditional aesthetics and the beauty of imperfection.
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