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In the Kiso Mountains, Higuchi Kanemitsu Defeats a Giant Ape (Kiso sanchû Higuchi Kanemitsu ôzaru taiji)


「木曾山中 樋口兼光大狒々退治(ひぐちかねみつおほざるたいぢ)」
Utagawa Yoshitsuya (Japanese, 1822–1866)
Publisher: Tsujiokaya Bunsuke (Kinshôdô) (Japanese)
Blockcutter: Koizumi Kanegorô (Hori Kane) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1858 (Ansei 5), 8th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban triptych; 36.6 × 74.9 cm (14 7/16 × 29 1/2 in.)
Credit Line Bequest of William Perkins Babcock
Accession Number00.1378-80
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Ukiyo-e daijiten (2008), p. 542
DescriptionTriptych: 00.1378 (center), 00.1379 (left), 00.1380 (right)

MFA impressions: 00.1378-80, 11.22911-3

The name of the monster given in the title box on the right sheet is glossed "ôzaru" but written with characters that would normally be read "ôhihi;" a variant of this pronunciation is given in the label beside the image of the creature on the left sheet, reading "ôhishi." Now the modern word for a baboon, "hihi" also indicates a traditional ape-like monster.
Signed Ichieisai Yoshitsuya ga (on each sheet)
一英斎芳艶画
Marks Censor's seal: Horse 8
Blockcutter's mark: Horikô Kane
改印:午八
彫師:彫工兼
ProvenanceBy 1900, William Perkins Babcock (b. 1826 - d. 1899), Boston and Paris; 1900, bequest of William Perkins Babcock to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 05, 1900)