In Praise of the Shadows by Tanizaki Jun’ichirō

April felt like a month of noticing things I might usually overlook. After reading In Praise of Shadows, I found myself paying more attention to the way light pools in corners, how certain spaces feel different at night, or how texture and shadow can make something feel more alive. The book didn’t just describe aesthetics—it shifted the way I perceived them. Without really meaning to, I started appreciating the quieter details of my surroundings, the things that don’t demand attention but shape an atmosphere all the same.

In Praise of the Shadows by Tanizaki Jun’ichirō

German title: Lob des Schattens

In Praise of Shadows by Tanizaki Jun’ichirō is a reflection on aesthetics, tradition and the way beauty is shaped by darkness as much as by light. Through observations on architecture, design and everyday objects, Tanizaki contrasts the Western pursuit of brightness with a more subtle appreciation of shadow, patina and imperfection. His writing lingers on the glow of candlelight, the texture of aged materials and the quiet richness of spaces designed to be experienced in dimness.

Yet the book is not simply an argument for darkness over light. Tanizaki considers what can be lost when modern ideas of progress—brighter rooms, polished surfaces and increasing convenience—alter the conditions through which beauty was once perceived. A lacquer bowl, a golden screen or the recesses of a traditional room do not possess their full effect in isolation. Their beauty emerges through their relationship with the surrounding shadows.

It is a book that doesn’t merely describe a way of seeing. It invites us to notice what usually remains in the background and to consider whether making everything brighter, clearer and more immediately visible might sometimes diminish the atmosphere that gives it meaning.