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「花合四 手活の花」
Flower Arranged Personally (Te-ike no hana), No. 4 from the series Comparison of Flowers (Hana awase)
「花合四 手活の花」
Yanagawa Shigenobu II (Japanese, active about 1830–60)
Japanese
Edo period
about 1835 (Tenpô 6)
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Shikishiban; 21 x 18.3 cm (8 1/4 x 7 3/16 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.20734
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Catalogue Raisonné
Alcains & Tomita, Felicitationes Japonesas (2020), pp. 118-9; Forrer, Surimono (2013), #378; Carpenter et al, Reading Surimono (2008), #235
DescriptionThe "flowers" of the series title are various kinds of women, in this case a geisha who is being kept as a private mistress by a wealthy man.
Poems translated in Carpenter et al 2008, p. 357; Spanish translation in Alcains & Tomita 2020, p. 118.
Key block print (possibly a Meiji reprint from the original blocks), one of 12 in handscroll format: 11.25820
Poems translated in Carpenter et al 2008, p. 357; Spanish translation in Alcains & Tomita 2020, p. 118.
Key block print (possibly a Meiji reprint from the original blocks), one of 12 in handscroll format: 11.25820
Signed
Yanagawa Shigenobu
柳川重信
柳川重信
Marks
Artist's seal: Yanagawa
InscriptionsPoem by Rakuyôan: Kago ni sumu/ uguisu nare ya/ ito-take ni/ nagaki harubi o/ kurasu otome wa
Poem by Takekumaan Sôju: Kaki o oru/ ada-gokoro naku/ yado shimete/ komoru te-ike no/ hana no ume ga ka
Poem by Ryûeishi: Mayu tsukuri/ kami o aguru o/ tsutome nite/ kurasu onna ya/ haru no aoyagi
Poem by Takekumaan Sôju: Kaki o oru/ ada-gokoro naku/ yado shimete/ komoru te-ike no/ hana no ume ga ka
Poem by Ryûeishi: Mayu tsukuri/ kami o aguru o/ tsutome nite/ kurasu onna ya/ haru no aoyagi
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.