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Guan Yu Passes Five Barriers (Kan'u gokan o yaburu no zu), from the series The Popular Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Tsûzoku Sangokushi)


「通俗三国志 関羽五関破図」
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese, 1797–1861)
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizô (Kôeidô) (Japanese)
Blockcutter: Tsuge Shôjirô (Hori Shôji) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1853 (Kaei 6), 5th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban triptych; 36.3 x 74.9 cm (14 5/16 x 29 1/2 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.38166a-c
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Robinson, Kuniyoshi: The Warrior-Prints (1982), list #T297
DescriptionMFA impressions: *11.28810-1 (R and C sheets only; deaccessioned in 2012), 11.38166a-c (complete triptych)
Signed Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga (on each sheet)
一勇斎国芳画
Marks Censors' seals: Hama, Magome, Ox 5
Blockcutter's mark: Hori Shôji (on left sheet only)
改印:浜、馬込、丑五
彫師:彫庄治
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850–d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 19, 2005)

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.