Poem by Minamoto no Muneyuki Ason: (Actor Iwai Tojaku I as) as Tokiwa Gozen, from the series Comparisons for Thirty-six Selected Poems (Mitate sanjûrokkasen no uchi)

「見立三十六歌撰之内　源宗于朝臣　常盤御前」　初代岩井杜若

Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Publisher: Iseya Kanekichi (Japanese)
Blockcutter: Yokokawa Takejirô (Hori Take)

Japanese

Edo period

1852 (Kaei 5), 11th month

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

Dimensions Vertical ôban; 36.5 × 25.4 cm (14 3/8 × 10 in.)

Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession Number11.36779.59

NOT ON VIEW

CollectionsAsia, Prints and Drawings

ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Kokubungaku kenkyû shiryôkan, ed., Zusetsu mitate to yatsushi (2008), p. 63, cat. no. 53

DescriptionMFA impressions: 11.36779.59, 11.42691

Album: 11.36779.1-72

Signed Toyokuni ga, in toshidama cartouche
豊国画(年玉枠)

Marks Censors' seals: Mera, Watanabe, Rat 11
Blockcutter's mark: Yokokawa Hori Take
改印：米良、渡辺、子十一
彫師：横川彫竹

Inscriptions「常磐なる　松のみどりも　春来れば　今一しほの　色まさりけり」

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.