Descending Geese at Katata (Katata no rakugan), from the series Eight Views of Omi Province (Ōmi hakkei) 「堅田落雁」 『近江八景』

Terms of Use
Usage Conditions ApplyAt A Glance
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Period
ca. 1834 -
Geography
Japan -
Material
Ink and color on paper -
Dimension
H x W: 25.4 x 37.8 cm (10 x 14 7/8 in) -
Accession Number
F1980.211 -
EDAN ID
edanmdm:fsg_F1980.211
Object Details
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Artist
Utagawa Hiroshige 歌川広重 (1797-1858) -
Publisher
Eikyudo -
Description
The wide expanse of Lake Biwa is in the foreground. The boats of fishermen lead toward a village on the shore. More sailing boats and ranges of trees are visible in the distance, where imposing mountains rise. A flock of geese descend from the dark, cloudy sky, seeking the distant shore. -
Signatures
Signature: "Hiroshige ga" -
Marks
Seals: circular, intaglio "Eikyudo" (publisher); circular, relief "kiwame" (censor). -
Inscriptions
Series title: Omi Hakkei (no uchi) (Eight Views of Omi Province)Series title: Omi Hakkei (no uchi) (Eight Views of Omi Province) -
Label
Early in his career, Hiroshige designed a fine series of eight landscape prints depicting "Eight Views of Omi" (now in the Shiga Prefecture), the scenic area around Lake Biwa. The subject is a Japanese adaptation of the Chinese theme of "Eight Views of the Hsiao and Hsiang [Rivers]" (J: Shosho hakkei; C: Xiao Xiang bajing). The theme of "Eight Views of Omi" has a strong literary basis, and is likely to have been formulated first in a series of poems before it became a subject of paintings. A poem is beautifully written in the upper left-hand corner of this print. As translated by Louis V. Ledoux (1880-1948), a former owner of the print, the verse may be rendered: "Lured from their flight over many peaks toward far-off Koshiji, the wild geese are alighting at nearby Katata." The composition takes full advantage of the illusion of depth achieved by the diagonal movement of the boats and the converging descent of the geese. Color printing is expertly controlled, especially in the clouds and the ghostly forms of trees along the distant shore. -
Provenance
Louis V. Ledoux (1880-1948) [1]To 1980Private collection, to 1980 [2]1980Freer Gallery of Art, given by a private collector in 1980Notes:[1] According to the donor, this print was once in the collection of Louis V. Ledoux.A detailed comparison between this print and the same print illustrated in the catalogue of the Ledoux collection substantiate this provenance; see Louis V. Ledoux, Japanese Prints in the Collection of Louis V. Ledoux vol. V: Hokusai and Hiroshige (Princeton University Press, 1951) no. 27 (see also, Curatorial Note 2, A. Yonemura, 1981, in object record).[2] See note 1. -
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection -
Exhibition History
An American in London: Whistler and the Thames (May 3 to August 17, 2014)The Floating World: Ukiyo-e Paintings and Prints (December 8, 2002 to May 26, 2003)Whistler & Japan (May 14, 1995 to January 1, 1996)Famous Places of Japan (October 17, 1985 to February 13, 1986)Japanese Prints (December 21, 1981 to March 31, 1982) -
Previous custodian or owner
Louis V. Ledoux (1880-1948)Anonymous -
Origin
Japan -
Credit Line
Anonymous gift -
Type
Print -
Restrictions and Rights
Usage Conditions Apply
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