Beschreibung:

DescriptionThe Property of a Gentleman, Formerly in the Collection of Edmond de GoncourtUtagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858)Six woodblock prints from Eight Views in the Environs of Edo (Edo kinko hakkei no uchi)Edo period, 19th century
each a woodblock print, from the series Eight Views in the Environs of Edo (Edo kinko hakkei no uchi), signed Hiroshige ga, censor’s seal kiwame (approved), published by Sanoya Kihei (Kikakudo), circa 1837-38, and comprising:
- Clearing Weather at Shibaura (Shibaura no seiran)- Evening Bell at Ikegami (Ikegami no bansho)- Night Rain at Azuma-no-mori (Azuma-no-mori yau)- Returning Sails at Gyotoku (Gyotoku no kihan)- Autumn Moon on the Tama River (Tamagawa no shugetsu)- Descending Geese at Haneda (Haneda no rakugan)
Each horizontal oban: each 22 x 34.8 cm., 8¾ x 13¾ in.Condition reportEach print. good impression and colour, each with margin trimmed to border, a few minor marks in places, each with remnants of mounting tape to the reverse top edge and later pencil annotations to reverse, the first and second with very slight vertical centrefolds.
Please note that Condition 12 of the Conditions of Business for Buyers (Online Only) is not applicable to this lot.
The lot is sold in the condition it is in at the time of sale. The condition report is provided to assist you with assessing the condition of the lot and is for guidance only. Any reference to condition in the condition report for the lot does not amount to a full description of condition. The images of the lot form part of the condition report for the lot. Certain images of the lot provided online may not accurately reflect the actual condition of the lot. In particular, the online images may represent colors and shades which are different to the lot's actual color and shades. The condition report for the lot may make reference to particular imperfections of the lot but you should note that the lot may have other faults not expressly referred to in the condition report for the lot or shown in the online images of the lot. The condition report may not refer to all faults, restoration, alteration or adaptation. The condition report is a statement of opinion only. For that reason, the condition report is not an alternative to taking your own professional advice regarding the condition of the lot. NOTWITHSTANDING THIS ONLINE CONDITION REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE/BUSINESS APPLICABLE TO THE RESPECTIVE SALE.ProvenanceEdmond de Goncourt (1822-1896)Catalogue noteInitially commissioned by the comic-verse (kyoka) poet, Taihaido Donsho, this rare series Eight Views in the Environs of Edo (Edo kinko hakkei no uchi) originally included his poems and was accompanied with the seal Taihaido kaihan [inaugurated by Taihaido]. Later printings, also rare, were reissued by the publisher Sanoya Kihei with some of the poems omitted or substituted with other newly composed poetry, such as the set of impressions comprising this lot:
a. Clearing Weather at Shibaura (Shibaura seiran) Anchored off the coast of Shiba to the south-east of Edo, the large masts and sterns of two boats are closely cropped to the right-hand side of the composition. The sky is now clear after the cessation of rain, and the densely populated coastal town of Shibaura is shown engaged in daily activity.
b. Evening Bell at Ikegami (Ikegami bansho)
Located on a mountain slope, the long staircase to the inner shrine precincts of the Choeizan Honmonji temple ascends through dense pine forest. Roofs of village dwellings and traveller sites for pilgrims to rest populate the foreground. The accompanying poem is by Shunkutei Tareyasu.
c. Night Rain at Azuma Wood (Azuma no mori yau)
A heavy rainfall at night over the grounds surrounding the Azuma Shrine. Two figures walk along the dike, respectively sheltering themselves from the rain with a broad straw hat and cloak, and a parasol. A solitary boat is moored along the riverbank.
d. Returning Sails at Gyotoku (Gyotoku kihan)
Several boats with large sails return to the village of Gyotoku. Men and women with their load are huddled towards the hull or are rowing from the prow. Tall reeds and young pine grow on the shoreline; to the background an oarsman paddles his raft before village huts.
e. Autumn Moon on the Tama River (Tamagawa shugetsu)
The fronds of a large willow tree hang over the banks of the Tama River, while two fisherman and further silhouetted figures cast their nets and rods in its waters. Tall reeds are depicted swaying in the wind, and to the distance the thatched roofs of village dwellings are nestled among forests of pine. A pale harvest moon hovers above the shadowy mountain ridges, partially covered by the fronds of the willow.
f. Geese Descending at Haneda (Haneda rakugan)
Curving in dramatic descent, two flights of geese pass by the coastline of Haneda to the south-west of Edo. Marked by the torii gate at the entrance of the holy site, Haneda was then known for its shrine devoted to the goddess of the arts and music, Benzaiten [lit. goddess of eloquence]. Among the reeds and grasses, two pilgrims make their return from the shrine. Several boats and sails are visible on the horizon.
For further impressions of the second edition of this series published by Sanoya Kihei in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, go to:https://collections.mfa.org/search/objects/*/Edo%20kink%C3%B4%20hakkei%20no%20uchi/images?page=1
Edmond Louis Antoine Huot de Goncourt (1822-1896) was a French writer, critic and art historian. Writing numerous books in collaboration with his brother, Jules de Goncourt (1830-1870), both published scholarship and important criticism on Japanese and European art. Throughout the 1860s, the brothers wrote extensively on Japan and were among the earliest art critics to extol a fascination with the archipelago. Goncourt published the first monograph on Kitagawa Utamaro (1854-1906) in 1891, and later in 1896 on Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849).Catalogue note