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Memorial Portrait of Actor Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII


八代目市川団十郎 (死絵)
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Publisher: Hayashiya Shôgorô (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1854 (Kaei 7/Ansei 1), 8th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 35.6 x 25.1 cm (14 x 9 7/8 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.40155
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

DescriptionThe censors' seals are from the period 1847-1852, but Danjûrô died in 1854. Probably an older print was recycled, with its original seals intact, to create the memorial portrait. The MFA has several prints that may be examples of older designs recycled as memorial prints: 11.21897, 11.22042, 11.40155.
Signed Toyokuni ga
豊国画
Marks Censors' seals: Hama, Magome
No blockcutter's mark
改印:浜、馬込
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.