Edward Atkinson Hornel

In 1893 Edward Atkinson Hornel and George Henry visited Japan, funded by among others, the picture dealer Alexander Reid and the Glasgow collector and ship-owner William Burrell. They embarked from Liverpool on the 18th of February on the steamer Pegu, bound for Rangoon. Hornel believed that "Japanese art, rivalling in splendour the greatest art in Europe, engenders in the artist the desire to see and study the environment out of which this great art sprung, to become personally in touch with the people, to live their life, and discover the source of their inspiration." (Bill Smith, The Life and Work of Edward Atkinson Hornel, 1997, p. 89) The two artists arrived in Nagasaki in late April, a beautiful time of the year to be introduced to Japan, with the last snow still on the ground and the plum trees laden with blossom. It is likely that the current work was one of his earliest pictures painted on this trip as a snow-capped Mount Fuji is visible in all its splendour in the background of this composition.

The artists based themselves in Tokyo and although they had wanted to experience Japanese life, government regulations restricted their meeting with local people. However in the grounds of Ueno park and nearby Asakusa, Hornel was able to interact with families enjoying the sunshine; "I associate and love to remember them, as a large and happy family, clattering along in the sunshine with smiling faces and no thought of the morrow, to spend the day 'mid plum and cherry blossom, or at night joyous and elevated with saki, amusing themselves with pretty geishas, dancing to the weird music." (Ibid Smith, pg. 93) Hornel was fascinated by the tea ceremonies, the beautiful dancing, the elegance of the young women and their vibrant costumes. The paintings he produced in Japan reflect his enthusiasm for the country and its people. Hornel and Henry returned home on the 19th May 1894 after thirteen months in Japan. The body of work which Hornel produced during this short period contains some of his most interesting and beautiful pictures.