Gendai Haiga Shū 現代俳画集 [A Collection of Modern Haiga]

1915. Gendai Haiga Shū 現代俳画集 [A Collection of Modern Haiga]
Nakamura Fusetsu 中村不折, et al, artists
Tokyo
Haigadō 俳画堂, publisher
Taisho 4-6 [1915-17]

4 volumes approx 25 x 16.5cm string-bound Japanese-style, fukuro-toji, thread-sewn Yamato binding. One volume is dated Taisho 4 [1915] (Spring), one is 5 [1916] (Summer) and two (Fall and Winter) are 6 [1917]. Three of the volumes are in the original, decorated wrappers and one (Spring) is in plain wrappers. Compiled by Shimada Yukichi 島田勇吉 and published by Haigadō 俳画堂, Tokyo. Printed by Abe Nabegorō 阿部鍋五郎 (vol. 1), Matsui Naojirō 松井直次郎 (vols. 2-3) and Kishi Kageyoshi 岸景吉? (vol. 4).

4 volumes of original, color woodblock prints exploring the 4 seasons, some featuring poems within the woodcut. Each volume has a Table of Contents in the front listing poems that reflect one of the seasons, concluding words and a colophon. Spring has 28 full-page color woodcuts, Summer has 31, and Autumn and Winter have 30 each, for a total of 119.

The Gendai Hanga Shū 現代俳画集 is a work of considerable skill and scarcity. The list of artists involved is a long one, including Nakamura Fusetsu 中村不折, Sazanami Iwaya 巖谷小波, Tomita Keisen, Ishii Hakutei, Hirafuku Hyakusui, Ota Saburo, Kosugi Misei, Shimomura Izan and many other important figures in Western-style painting, here working in their literati "haiga" mode. Mitchell had but one volume of the four, the British Library only procured its own complete set within the last ten or fifteen years. Hillier seems to have missed the existence of the book completely. See Mitchell p. 266 Winter volume.

Wear and dirt staining to covers. Toning on a few prints, otherwise prints are in good condition. Very good printing.