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A Modern Version of the Story of Ushiwakamaru Serenading Jôruri-hime


見立浄瑠璃姫
Torii Kiyonaga (Japanese, 1752–1815)
Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudô) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
about 1785 (Tenmei 5)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban triptych; 39.5 x 77.9 cm (15 9/16 x 30 11/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.25128, 11.25130, 34.358
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Chiba Museum, Torii Kiyonaga (2007), list #s 22-a (1st ed.), 22-b (2nd ed.; no photo); Ukiyo-e shûka 2 (1985), list #30.1-3; Ukiyo-e shûka 10 (1979), pls. 210-2 (Grabhorn coll., 1st ed.); Hirano, Kiyonaga (1939), #707, pls. LXX (1st ed.), LXXVII (2nd ed.)
DescriptionTriptych: 11.25128 (right), 11.25130 (center), 34.358 (left)

First edition, first state. There are two later states with partial changes in the blocks, and a second edition (not in the MFA) made slightly later from completely different blocks, with updated hairstyles and other changes.

MFA impressions, all first edition, various states:
Right sheet: 11.13885 (second state), 11.13975 (key block, second state), 11.25128 (first state), 21.7505 (third state)
Center sheet: 11.13976 (key block, second state), 11.25130 (first state), 21.7504 (first state), 34.359 (first state)
Left sheet: 11.25129 (second state), 21.7503 (first state), 34.358 (first state)
Signed Kiyonaga ga
清長画
ProvenanceBy 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850 – d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: August 3, 1911)

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.