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Actors Ichikawa Omezô I as Benkei and Sawamura Gennosuke I as Yoshitsune in the Play Yoshitsune Senbon-zakura


「義経千本桜」「弁慶 市川男女蔵」(初代)、「義つね 沢村源之助」(初代)
Utagawa Toyokuni I (Japanese, 1769–1825)
Publisher: Yamatoya Jûbei (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1803 (Kyôwa 3), 8th month (?)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 36.1 x 24.2 cm (14 3/16 x 9 1/2 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.22465
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Ritsumeikan db (this impression)
DescriptionPlay: Yoshitsune Senbon Zakura
Theater: Ichimura
義経千本桜(よしつねせんぼんざくら)
市村、二の切
享和03(1803)・ 08・08

There is some question as to the date of the production shown. In the 1803 production of the play, Gennosuke played Yoshitsune and Omezô was also in the cast, but a different actor played Benkei (see the program with cast list, 11.27699). Omezô had played Benkei in an earlier production of the same play at the same theater in 1799.9, but Gennosuke did not appear in the 1799 production because he was touring in Kamigata at the time. This print may represent an imaginary combination of the two performances, or it may refer to a third production of the play not yet identified.
Signed Toyokuni ga
豊国画
Marks Censor's seal: kiwame
改印:極
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.