Actor Nakamura Utaemon IV as Yamabayashi Fusahachi, from the series The Book of the Eight Dog Heroes (Hakkenden inu no sôshi no uchi)

「八犬傳犬之艸紙廼内　犬江親兵衛父　山林房八（いぬえしんべえちち　やまばやしふさはち）」　四代目中村歌右衛門

Utagawa Kunisada II (Kunimasa III, Toyokuni IV) (Japanese, 1823–1880)
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizô (Kôeidô) (Japanese)
Blockcutter: Yokokawa Takejirô (Hori Take)

Japanese

Edo period

1852 (Kaei 5), 10th month

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

Dimensions Vertical ôban; 37.1 × 25.1 cm (14 5/8 × 9 7/8 in.)

Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession Number11.44561

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings

ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Chiba Museum, Hakkenden no sekai (2008), #52; Nihon no koten 16, Nansô Satomi Hakkenden (1976), p. 60

DescriptionNo. 12 of the Left group on the title page (11.39112).

MFA impressions: 11.39125, 11.44561

Signed Kunisada ga, in toshidama cartouche
国貞画(年玉枠)

Marks Censors' seals: Fuku, Muramatsu, Rat 10
Blockcutter's mark: Hori Take
改印：福、村松、子十
彫師：彫竹

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.