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Crab and Peonies


牡丹に蟹
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Japanese
Edo period
about 1825 (Bunsei 8)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Shikishiban; 21 x 18.6 cm (8 1/4 x 7 5/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.19909
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Rijksmuseum, Surimono: Poetry and Image (2000), #24; Rijksmuseum cat. IV, Hiroshige and the Utagawa School (1984), #149
DescriptionThe first two poems are translated in Rijksmuseum 2000, p. 50.
Signed Ôju Kunisada ga
応需国貞画
InscriptionsPoem by Bunsô Takemasa: Harukaze no/ kesa fuku botan/ kani botan/ fukuyaka ni miru (or: fuku yô ni miru)/ mono ni zo arikeru
Poem by Buchinsha Kanio: Setsubun no/ mamegani mo dete/ medemuramu/ kusa no na ni yobu/ hatsuka shôgatsu
Peom by Bunbunsha: Isamashiki/ botan no hana ni/ hachihachi to/ hiraku ôgi no/ kanime medetashi
文窓竹雅 春風のけさ福牡丹蟹ほたんふくやかに見る物にそありける
江州 文鎮舎蟹雄 節分の豆蟹も出てめてぬらむ艸の名によふ廿日正月
文々舎 いさましき牡丹の花にはち/\とひらくあふきの蟹めめたし
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.