The Syllable Ko for the Play Kokusenya: Actors Ichikawa Ebizô V as Kanki and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Watônai, from the series Seven Calligraphic Models for Each Character in the Kana Syllabary (Seisho nanatsu iroha) – Works – Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

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The Syllable Ko for the Play Kokusenya: Actors Ichikawa Ebizô V as Kanki and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Watônai, from the series Seven Calligraphic Models for Each Character in the Kana Syllabary (Seisho nanatsu iroha)

The Syllable Ko for the Play Kokusenya: Actors Ichikawa Ebizô V as Kanki and Ichikawa Danjûrô VIII as Watônai, from the series Seven Calligraphic Models for Each Character in the Kana Syllabary (Seisho nanatsu iroha)

「清書七以呂波　（こ）　こくせんや」「かんき」五代目市川海老蔵、「わとうない」八代目市川団十郎

Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Publisher: Minatoya Kohei (Japanese)

Japanese

Edo period

1856 (Ansei 3), 6th month

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

Dimensions Vertical ôban; 35.4 x 24.7 cm (13 15/16 x 9 3/4 in.)

Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession Number11.42704

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings

ClassificationsPrints

DescriptionMFA impressions: 11.35399.32, 11.42704

Signed Toyokuni ga, in toshidama cartouche
豊国画(年玉枠)

Marks Censor's seals: aratame, Dragon 6
No blockcutter's mark
改印：改、辰六
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.