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A Comical Ken Game (Dôke ken awase): Actors Ichikawa Kuzô II as a Tiger, Nakamura Utaemon IV as a Toad, and Matsumoto Kôshirô VI as a Fox


「道化拳合」 二代目市川九蔵の虎、四代目中村歌右衛門の蛙、六代目松本幸四郎の狐
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese, 1797–1861)
Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburô (Dansendô) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1847 (Kôka 4), 2nd month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 36 x 24.4 cm (14 3/16 x 9 5/8 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.28863
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Linhart, "Interpreting...," in Japan at Play (2002), translation of poem p. 35 (this print not shown)
DescriptionMFA impressions: 11.21964, *11.28752 (deaccessioned in 2012), 11.28863, 11.37135
Signed Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi giga
一勇斎国芳戯画
Marks Censors' seals: Mera, Murata
No blockcutter's mark
改印:米良、村田
彫師:なし
InscriptionsSake wa kenzake/ iroshina wa/ kairu hitohyoko mihyokohyoko/ hebi nura nura/ nameku de mairimasho/ sore janjaka janjaka janken na/ basama ni/ Watônai ga shikarareta/ tora wa hau hau/ totetsuruten/ kitsune de saa kinase
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.