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The Historical Site of the Pontoon Bridge of Sano at Kuragano Styation (Kuragano, Sano funabashi no kyûseki): Actor Iwai Tojaku I (=Iwai Hanshirô V) as Dote no Oroku, from the series The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidô Road (Kisokaidô rokujûkyû eki)


「木曽六十九駅 倉ヶ野 佐野ノ舟橋旧跡 土手のお六」 初代岩井杜若
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Publisher: Yamazakiya Seishichi (Sanseidô) (Japanese)
Blockcutter: Ôtaya Takichi (Hori Takichi) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1852 (Kaei 5), 10th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 36.2 x 25.2 cm (14 1/4 x 9 15/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.42724
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

DescriptionStation 13.

The hero of the play Kakitsubata Iro mo Edozome is named Sano Jirôzaemon; hence the connection to the place name Sano. In the play, Oroku is a disreputable snake-charmer who initially plots against Jirôzaemon but later repents her misdeeds and helps him. With a distinctive hairstyle featuring a comb worn at the side, Oroku is a classic "bad woman" role who appears in other plays as well.

Iwai Hanshirô V, later known as Iwai Tojaku (1776-1847), played the role in 1830:
Play (second feature): Shin-ori Obiya no Chûmon
Theater: Ichimura
Date of production: 1830 (Bunsei 13/Tenpô 1), 8th month
新織入帯屋注文(しんおりおびやのちゅうもん)
市村、 二番目
Signed Toyokuni ga, in toshidama cartouche
豊国画(年玉枠)
Marks Censors' seals: Fuku, Muramatsu, Rat 10
Blockcutter's mark: Hori Takichi
改印:福、村松、子十
彫師:彫多吉
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.