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The Marvelous Doctor Treats Serious Diseases (Kitai na meii nanbyô ryôji)


「きたいなめい医 難病療治」
Utagawa Kuniyoshi (Japanese, 1797–1861)
Publisher: Enshûya Hikobei (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1850 (Kaei 3)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban triptych; 37.7 x 76.3 cm (14 13/16 x 30 1/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.22104-6
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Kurahashi, Edo kabuki no jôhô bunkashi (2021), p. 295, fig. 4; Nat. Mus. of J. Hist., Nishiki-e wa ika ni tsukurareta ka (2009), #57; Minami, Edo no fûshiga (1997), pp. 170-6, fig. 43; Inagaki and Isao, Kuniyoshi no kyôga (1991), #80
DescriptionTriptych: 11.22104 (left), 11.22105 (center), 11.22106 (right)

The female doctor Kogarashi, daughter of the quack doctor Chikusai (Yabukusushi Chikusai musume meii Kogarashi), sits in the center in front of a floral screen; her four disciples, in black jackets, apply humorous "treatments" to patients. Thought to be a political satire.

MFA impressions: 11.28711VR (11.28711, 11.28712, 11.28696), 11.22104-6, *11.28824VR (two sheets only; *11.28824, *11.28856; deaccessioned in 2012), 11.28825VR (11.28825, 11.28860, 11.28861), 11.28852-4, 11.28855VR (11.28855, 11.28857, 11.28859), 11.28825VR (11.28825, 11.28860, 11.28861), 11.39552a-c, 11.41536a-c
Signed Ichiyûsai Kuniyoshi giga (on each sheet)
一勇斎国芳戯画
Marks Censors' seals: Hama, Magome
No blockcutter's mark
改印:浜、馬込
彫師:なし
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.