Abstract EN:

In his later years, Edmond de Goncourt planned to publish a series of works on the 18th-century Japanese art. He intended the work to be composed of the studies on thirteen Japanese artists. However, Edmond only published two studies: Outamaro (1891) and Hokousaï (1896). In fact, the death of Edmond interrupted his project. Anyway, in the Journal of Goncourt, certain persons of the thirteen artists to study are mentioned; therefore, we can imagine various aspects on the rest part of his plan. Besides, as to the formation of the accomplished two studies, we can make a research by referring to the following documents: the Journal de Goncourt; his correspondence; the first edition of the two studies, along with their certain parts previously published. These documents reveal the following: Goncourt collected with zeal much information; the writer persevered in his elaboration of text; the fruits of his efforts had a favorable reception.