View: Enjoying the Evening Breeze at the Ryogoku Bridge

1811

At his death Breitner owned a collection of 45 Japanese prints, including this quintych. In the catalogue of his estate the work is described as ‘A Japanese print, representing a water festival.’ It is not known where he bought the prints, but there were plenty of possibilities. For instance, in 1894 an exhibition of Japanese prints was held at Arti et Amicitiae, the artists’ association of which Breitner was an active member.