Advanced Search 
「日本 大神宮」十二代目市村羽左衛門、「天竺 釈迦」四代目中村歌右衛、「唐土 孔子」三代目関三十郎 「三国拳」
The Ken Game of the Three Countries (Sangoku ken): Actors Ichimura Uzaemon XII (in front) as the Ise Shrine of Japan (Nihon Daijingû), Nakamura Utaemon IV (at left) as the Buddha in India (Tenjiku Shaka), and Seki Sanjûrô III (in back) as Confucius in China (Kôshi Kôshi)
「日本 大神宮」十二代目市村羽左衛門、「天竺 釈迦」四代目中村歌右衛、「唐土 孔子」三代目関三十郎 「三国拳」
Japanese
Edo period
1848 (Kôka 5/Kaei 1), 12th month
Medium/Technique
Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions
Vertical ôban; 37 x 25.3 cm (14 9/16 x 9 15/16 in.)
Credit Line
William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.39684
NOT ON VIEW
CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings
ClassificationsPrints
Catalogue Raisonné
Linhart, "Kuniyoshi's ken caricatures," Andon 83 (2008), list #31 (no photo); p. 20, translation of poem
DescriptionMFA impressions: 11.16599, 11.28862, 11.39684
Signed
Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi ga
一勇斎国芳画
一勇斎国芳画
Marks
Censors' seals: Muramatsu, Yoshimura
No blockcutter's mark
改印：村松、吉村
彫師：なし
No blockcutter's mark
改印：村松、吉村
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: 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.
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.