MUSES (with obi)

Collective
MUSES (with obi)

Photographs: Shunji Okura, Yoshihiro Tatsuki and Hideki Fujii

Text: Koichi Nakai

Publisher: Seibundo Shinkosha

136 pages

Year: 1992

Comments: Softcover under dust jacket and obi, 29,6 x 22,6 cm, b&w and color photographs. Edited by Koichi Nakai. Inside in very good condition. Dust jacket in good condition, little yellowing and chipped at the top of the spine. Obi in fair condition with a tear and a part is missing (the flap). Text in Japanese and English.

"Muses, also known as Musai, are the goddesses of Greek mythology who preside over arts in general. Accord. ing to Hesiods, there were nine Muses, and they initially enjoyed dance and songs together but later were separated to preside over nine professions of arts respectively: Kal. liope is in charge of epics, Kleio of history, Euterpe of music, Terpsichore of dances, Erato of songs, Melpomene of tragedies, Thaleia of comedies, Polyhymnia of paeans, and Urania of astronomy.

Muses are the daughters of Zeus and Mnemosyne (memory). They are not heroines of mythology but are said to bless those who work hard in their respective profes. sions and punish those who are insincere. Like Naiades, Muses are water nymphs. This is one of the reasons why the word "muse" gives us the impression of pleasant and beautiful arts.

The title of this book "Muse" was chosen by Seibundo Shinkosha, the publisher. When I submitted the proposal for the book, the title was not yet decided and I recom mended the provisional title, The Collection of Excellent Nude Photographs by Three Artists: Okura, Tatsuki and Fuji. I guess that the publisher named the book "Muse" expecting that the three distinguished photographers would take photographs suitable for the image of the title."

- From the book, introduction by Koichi Nakai