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Actor Matsumoto Kôshirô IV, from the book Yakusha gakuya tsû (Actors in Their Dressing Rooms)


似貌絵本俳優楽屋通 「松本幸四郎」 (四代)
Utagawa Kunimasa (Japanese, 1773–1810)
Japanese
Edo period
1799 (Kansei 11), 1st month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions One kohon page; 14.8 x 10.4 cm (5 13/16 x 4 1/8 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.25861
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Ukiyo-e shûka 9 (1981), list #1.83.02; the book: Hizô Ukiyo-e taikan/Ukiyo-e Masterpieces in European Collections 3, British Museum III (1987), pls. 318-22 (this page: pl. 320, right side)
DescriptionCut from a book of 36 actor portraits, jointly designed by Toykuni I and Kunimasa (18 portraits each), with a frontispiece by Utamaro.
Signed Kunimasa ga
国政画
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.