Ko Brigade, Fifth Group, Shibuya: Actor Ichikawa Shinnosuke IV as Shibuya no Konnômaru, from the series Flowers of Edo and Views of Famous Places (Edo no hana meishô-e)

「江戸の華名勝会　こ　五番組」　「渋谷」　「渋谷の金王丸　市川新之助」（四代目）

Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Other artist: Utagawa Sadahide (Japanese, 1807–1873)
Publisher: Katôya Iwazô (Seibei) (Japanese)

Japanese

Edo period

1863 (Bunkyû 3), 12th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Dimensions Vertical ôban; 36.4 x 24.6 cm (14 5/16 x 9 11/16 in.)

Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession Number11.42507

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings

ClassificationsPrints

DescriptionThe term “flowers of Edo” (Edo no hana) can refer, among other things, to fires. The title panel for each print in this series shows the lanterns and identifying standard (matoi) for one of the brigades of firefighters (hikeshi) assigned to various districts. On the west side of the Sumida River were 48 brigades named for the symbols of the kana syllabary and grouped into 8 numbered groups (1 to 10, minus the bad-luck numbers 4 and 7). On the east side of the river, brigades were numbered and assigned to directional groups. Outlying districts were covered by special brigades, here designated “extra” (bangai). Each title gives the name or number of a brigade, its group, and its district, followed by the kabuki scene chosen to match it.
(見立)

Signed Toyokuni ga, in toshidama cartouche (bottom right); Sadahide ga (bottom left), Gyokuran sha (top)
豊国画(年玉枠)、玉蘭写、貞秀画

Marks Censor's seal: Boar 12 aratame
No blockcutter's mark
改印: 亥十二改

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.