Advanced Search 
土蜘蛛
The Earth Spider (Tsuchigumo)
土蜘蛛
Utagawa Sadahide (Japanese, 1807–1873)
Japanese
Edo period
1843 (Tenpô 14)
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Vertical chûban; 25.8 × 18.7 cm (10 3/16 × 7 3/8 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.21417
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Catalogue Raisonné
Ôta Mem. Mus., Edo yôkai dai zukan (2014), #78 (w/ demons); Nat. Mus. of J. Hist., Nishiki-e wa ika ni tsukurareta ka (2009), #50; Inagaki and Isao, Kuniyoshi no kyôga (1991), p. 199; Miyao, Nihon no giga (1967), p. 256 (w/ demons)
DescriptionCenter sheet of incomplete triptych.
MFA impressions: 11.21416VR (11.21416, 11.21418, 11.21419; complete triptych, showing Earth Spider, with unidentified publisher's mark), 11.21417 (center sheet only, showing demons, without publisher's mark or censor's seal)
MFA impressions: 11.21416VR (11.21416, 11.21418, 11.21419; complete triptych, showing Earth Spider, with unidentified publisher's mark), 11.21417 (center sheet only, showing demons, without publisher's mark or censor's seal)
Signed
Gyokuransai Sadahide ga
玉蘭斎貞秀画
玉蘭斎貞秀画
Marks
No censor's seal
No blockcutter's mark
改印：なし
彫師：なし
No blockcutter's mark
改印：なし
彫師：なし
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.
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.