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「一陽連 文房四友 紙 定家」
Fujiwara no Teika (1162–1241) edited the beloved anthology Hyakunin isshu (One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each). Here he sits at his desk contemplating poems written on square poetry cards, which echo the shape of the print itself. In addition to paper, the Friends of the Writing Table were the brush, the ink, and the inkstone. The accompanying poems allude to a popular New Year’s card game that tested the players’ knowledge of poems from Teika’s compilation.
Paper (Kami): Poet Fujiwara no Sadaie (Teika), from the series Four Friends of the Writing Desk for the Ichiyô Circle (Ichiyôren bunbô shiyû)
「一陽連 文房四友 紙 定家」
Yashima Gakutei (Japanese, 1786?–1868)
Japanese
Edo period
1830s
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Shikishiban; 21.1 x 18.5 cm (8 5/16 x 7 5/16 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.19875
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Fujiwara no Teika (1162–1241) edited the beloved anthology Hyakunin isshu (One Hundred Poets, One Poem Each). Here he sits at his desk contemplating poems written on square poetry cards, which echo the shape of the print itself. In addition to paper, the Friends of the Writing Table were the brush, the ink, and the inkstone. The accompanying poems allude to a popular New Year’s card game that tested the players’ knowledge of poems from Teika’s compilation.
Catalogue Raisonné
Carpenter et al, Reading Surimono (2008), #66; Rijksmuseum, Surimono: Poetry and Image (2000), #108; Rijksmuseum cat. III, Hokusai and His School (1982), #256; Bowie et al, Art of the Surimono (1979), #85
DescriptionPoems translated in Carpenter et al 2008, p. 191; and Bowie et al 1979, p. 85.
Signed
Gakutei
岳亭
岳亭
InscriptionsPoem by Bunzôshi Monnami: Uta karuta/ toru sama misete/ shikishite ni/ sudaku kawazu mo/ haru no hi no kyô
Poem by Bunrokuen Asayuki: Teniha yoki/ utayomi-dori no/ koe sunari/ saki sou ume ga/ kana mo shirabete
Poem by Bunrokuen Asayuki: Teniha yoki/ utayomi-dori no/ koe sunari/ saki sou ume ga/ kana mo shirabete
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.
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.