Painting on framed silk depicting a view of the port of Hako - Lot 314

Painting on framed silk depicting a view of the port of Hakodate (Hokkaido Island) during the 1860s. The scene shows a group of ships flying foreign flags (United States, France, Switzerland, Russia, etc.) parked in the bay protected at its mouth by the Benten Daiba fort. Japan, first half of the 20th century. Dimensions: 95.5x42 cm. Lot presented on re-bidding by the defaulting bidder at the sale of November 8, 2024, in accordance with the provisions of article L 321-14 paragraph 3 of the Code de Commerce. By an unknown artist, this view of Hakodate is inspired by one currently on display at the Hakodate City Museum in Japan, dating from 1863. It could be an unknown version, as certain variants can only be observed on the copy we are presenting here. The view of these ships flying foreign flags is a direct reference to the independent Republic of Ezo founded by opponents of the Meiji imperial troops following the defeat of the Shogunate. The various flags in the composition represent the powers that came to set up consulates on the island, notably the Western powers. The detail of an Orthodox church built by the Russians is also a reference to these foreign powers, some of which were directly cobelligerent. The Republic of Ezo was short-lived: imperial troops laid siege to the position and defeated the rebels, who surrendered on June 30, 1869.