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Actors Fujimura Handayû II (?) and Ôtani Hiroeman I (?), from an untitled series of Theater Pictures (Shibai-e)


芝居絵 二代目藤村半太夫ヵ、初代大谷広右衛門ヵ
Okumura Masanobu (Japanese, 1686–1764)
Japanese
Edo period
about 1711 (Hôei 8/Shôtoku 1)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (sumizuri-e); ink on paper
Dimensions Horizontal ôban; 27 x 36 cm (10 5/8 x 14 3/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.13367
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Mutô, Shoki Ukiyo-e to Kabuki (2005), no. 1813 and/or no. 1823; Clark, Morse, Virgin, and Hockley, Dawn of the Floating World (2000-1), p. 160 (no photo); Shibui, "Masanobu no sumi-e," Ukiyo-e no kenkyû VI.3 (March 1929), #D-6
DescriptionTen sheets from the set of twelve: 11.13361 to 11.13369 and 21.5731, plus an additional half sheet, 21.7199. The plays that can be identified were performed between 1709 and 1710, and so the series may have been made for New Year of 1711.
Signed (On the final sheet in the series: Tôbu Yamato Eshi Okumura Masanobu zu)
(東武大和画師奥村政信図)
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 - d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)

NOTES:
[1] Much of Bigelow's collection of Asian art was formed during his residence in Japan between 1882 and 1889, although he also made acquisitions in Europe and the United States. Bigelow deposited many of these objects at the MFA in 1890 before donating them to the Museum's collection at later dates.