'Beautiful and revelatory…a celebration of the West’s love affair with Japan and that country’s reciprocal interest in the West…sumptuous illustrations.' (Metro, London)
 
'The perfect introduction to a fascinating and visually stimulating subject.' (Frank Whitford, Art Quarterly)
 
'A gorgeously illustrated account of an ongoing – and extraordinarily fruitful – affair between Japan and the West.' (V&A (Victoria & Albert Museum) magazine)
 
'A fluent and engaging narrative…With his inimitable style and his rich store of well-chosen anecdotes, the author brings the personalities to life, and conveys a vivid impression of the enthusiasm that Japonisme generated…With its lively text full of human interest and closely supported by a wealth of beautiful illustrations, Japonisme will provide the perfect introduction to this popular subject for the widest possible audience, and will also be a valuable reference source for teachers and students.' (The Good Read)

Lionel Lambourne was head of paintings at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, from 1986–1993. He has traveled widely as curator of exhibitions in Britain, Germany and Japan, and has had a long-standing interest in the dialogue between Japan and the West. His books include The Aesthetic Movement (1996) and Victorian Painting (1999), both published by Phaidon.