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The Ukifune Chapter of the Tale of Genji, for the Akabane-ren


「赤羽連」 源氏浮船
Totoya Hokkei (Japanese, 1780–1850)
Japanese
Edo period
1826 (Bunsei 9)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (surimono); ink, color, and metallic pigment on paper
Dimensions Shikishiban; 21 x 18.3 cm (8 1/4 x 7 3/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.20609
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Rijksmuseum, Surimono: Poetry and Image (2000), #94; Mirviss, The Frank Lloyd Wright Collection of Surimono (1995), #23; Rijksmuseum cat. III, Hokusai and His School (1982), #185; Polster & Marks, Surimono (1980), p. 211
DescriptionPoems translated in Mirviss w/ Carpenter 1995, p. 108, and Rijksmuseum 2000, p. 157. The first poem mentions the Year of the Dog, i.e. 1826.
Signed Hokkei
北渓
InscriptionsPoem by Fukkitei Kanezane: Inudoshi no/ haru ni ause no/ ukifune wa/ Okinamaru to mo/ omohoyuru kana
Poem by Akebono no Haruko: Uruwashiki/ uki dani haru wa/ Nioumiya/ ume ga kaori o/ noseru ukifune
Poem by Hananomon Masao: Hoshi to yobu/ ume no kaoreba/ Ukifune no/ chigiri ya kataki/ ishi to naruramu
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.