Initially 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 stern 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 the 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 a dense forest 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 signalling the entrance to 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).
