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The Ken Game of the Five Colors (Itsu iro ken): Actors Bandô Hikosaburô V as the Master (Danna), Bandô Mitsugorô VI as the Craftsman's Wife (Shigotoshi nyôbô) (R), Ôtani Tomoemon V as a Craftsman (Shigotoshi), and Iwai Shijaku II as a Baby Minder (Komori) (L)


五色けん  五代目坂東彦三郎の旦那、六代目坂東三津五郎の仕事師女房  五代目 大谷友右衛門の 仕事師、二代目岩井紫若の子守
Toyohara Kunichika (Japanese, 1835–1900)
Publisher: Kikuya Ichibei (Japanese)
Blockcutter: Watanabe Eizô (Hori Ei) (Japanese, 1833–1901)
Japanese
Edo period
1867 (Keiô 3), 2nd month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban diptych; 36.1 × 48.3 cm (14 3/16 × 19 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.41568a-b
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Waseda db 101-7303 (right sheet, not in MFA), 101-7304 (center), 101-7305 (left)
DescriptionTwo left sheets of incomplete triptych; title on missing right sheet..
引抜て春の道草(ひきぬいてはるのみちくさ)
守田
Signed Kunichika hitsu (on each sheet)
国周筆
Marks Censor's seal: Hare 2 aratame
Blockcutter's mark: Hori Ei
改印:卯弐改
彫師:彫栄
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.