This volume brings together forty-eight leading scholars from institutions such as the University of Chicago, Oxford, Columbia, Stanford, and the University of Tokyo, along with major universities in Europe, North America, Japan, and Taiwan. Each was invited to interpret a single significant object or image, with choices ranging from masterpieces to everyday items. The book’s self-reflective framework—reconsidering the triangular relationship between object, description, and analyst—challenges long-standing premises in art history and introduces new approaches to writing about material culture. By convening three generations of leading voices, it underscores the editor’s international recognition and scholarly authority.

When this book was first released, it occupied the top spot on the art bestseller list for several weeks. I may not have kept a record of this, and it can no longer be verified now. At the time, it was extremely well received, which led to numerous book launch events being organized.