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The Syllables Yu and Me: Actors Iwai Kumesaburô III as the Nun Seigen (Seigen-ni) and Nakamura Utaemon IV as Akushichibyôe Kagekiyo, from the series An Instructive Alphabet of Proverbs (Kyôkun iroha tatoe)


「教訓いろはたとゑ」 「ゆ 清玄尼」三代目岩井粂三郎、「め 悪七兵衛景清」四代目中村歌右衛門
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburô (Dansendô) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
about 1851 (Kaei 4)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 37.2 x 25.2 cm (14 5/8 x 9 15/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.42608
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

DescriptionNo. 20 in the series.

The complete series: 11.42589-11.42612.
役者名が墨書された貼り紙あり。
Signed Toyokuni ga
豊国画
Marks Censors' seals: Kinugasa, Murata
No blockcutter's mark
改印:衣笠、村田
彫師:なし
InscriptionsProverb for Yu: Yume wa saka yume
Proverb for Me: Mekura wa hebi ni ojizu
「夢はさかゆめ」「めくら蛇におぢず」
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.