La belleza del objeto cotidiano

Upon awakening, the first sensations we perceive are the touch of our sheets, the light from the lamp we switch on enveloping us, and the shape and colour of our breakfast dishes... From that moment until we close our eyes again upon the pillow's fabric at the end of the day, our bodies will have encountered and interacted with many diverse objects. These are modest, common, and ordinary items that we constantly use without giving them much thought. Yet, objects also serve as constant companions in our lives and, as Soetsu Yanagi asserts, they should be crafted with care and designed to endure. They deserve to be treated with respect and even affection. Moreover, they should perfectly combine beauty and utility.

Soetsu Yanagi, an essential thinker previously untranslated into Spanish, stands as one of the pivotal voices of the 20th century, drawing attention to the value of everyday objects and anonymous craftsmanship. This book, which compiles the short essays of the Japanese critic, will teach us to look around with new eyes and to appreciate the remarkable material and intangible value of these anonymous creations, always beautiful and honest, that are part of our daily lives.