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Mount Yamabuki at Yabuhara Station (Yabuhara, Yamabukiyama): Actor Iwai Hanshirô VI as Ofude, from the series The Sixty-nine Stations of the Kisokaidô Road (Kisokaidô rokujûkyû eki)


「木曽六十九駅 薮原 山吹山 おふで」 六代目岩井半四郎
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Publisher: Sumiyoshiya Masagorô
Blockcutter: Sugawa Sennosuke (Hori Sennosuke) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1852 (Kaei 5), 11th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 37.7 x 26.2 cm (14 13/16 x 10 5/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.17325
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

DescriptionStation 36.

In the kabuki play Hiragana Seisuiki, Ofude is a loyal lady-in-waiting to Yamabuki Gozen, one of the lovers of the warrior Kiso Yoshinaka (who is also in a romantic relationship with the female warrior Tomoe Gozen). When Yoshinaka and Tomoe are defeated, Ofude flees with Yamabuki (who has the same name as Mount Yamabuki at Yabuhara) and her little son by Yoshinaka. Here, she confronts their pursuers, trying to buy time for the other two to escape.

Play: Hiragana Seisuiki
Signed Toyokuni ga, in toshidama cartouche
豊国画(年玉枠)
Marks Censors' seals: Mera, Watanabe, Rat 11, shita-uri
Blockcutter's mark: Hori Sennosuke
改印:米良、渡辺、子十一、シタ売
彫師:彫千之助
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.