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Chanter, from an untitled set of Five Musicians (Gonin-bayashi)


五人囃子 唄
Torii Kiyonaga (Japanese, 1752–1815)
Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudô) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
about 1783 (Tenmei 3)

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical chûban; 25.8 x 19.2 cm (10 3/16 x 7 9/16 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.19353
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Chiba Museum, Torii Kiyonaga (2007), list #181-1 (no photo); Ukiyo-e shûka 2 (1985), list #227.1, pl. 108; Hirano, Kiyonaga (1939), #555, pl. XXXII
DescriptionMFA impressions: 11.19353, 21.8411

Hirano points out that the designs on the kimono suggest the Five Festivals, as follows:
Chanter: New Year (1/1)
Flute Player: The Doll Festival (3/3)
Small Hand Drum: The Boys' Festival (5/5)
Large Hand Drum: The Tanabata Festival (7/7)
Drum on Stand: The Chrysanthemum Festival (9/9)
Signed Kiyonaga ga
清長画
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.