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DEACESSIONED June 20, 2019

No. 4, Shiratama, from the series An Excellent Selection of Thirty-six Noted Courtesans (Meigi sanjûroku kasen)


「名妓三十六優選 しら玉の話 第四」
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Publisher: Tsutaya Kichizô (Kôeidô) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1861 (Man'en 2/Bunkyû 1), 1st month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 34.7 x 24 cm (13 11/16 x 9 7/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.45300
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné C's Ukiyo-e Museum, http://homepage2.nifty.com/ukiyo-e/index.html
DescriptionMFA impressions: 11.42802, *11.45300 (deaccessioned in 2019), 11.45301
Signed Ôju Toyokuni ga, in toshidama cartouche
応需豊国画(年玉枠)
Marks Censor's seal: Chicken 1 aratame
No blockcutter's mark
改印:酉正改
彫師:なし
Inscriptionsしら玉の話

まだ雛妓のころほひより そのこころ
ざま いとすぐれ おのずと まつくらゐ
そなはり ひとの耳目を おどろかしし
ことどもおほく ありつるものあり あるじは
これを しら玉と かいめいさして
太夫となしたり そをしらたま
いたくはぢて

  しら玉と よばれぬる身の はづかしく
    つゆとこらえて きえもいりたし

かく とりあへず よみたりとぞ

 三亭春馬 誌
    栄中 書
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.