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Re Brigade, Ninth Group, Nezu: Actor Kawarazaki Gonjurô I as Kawabata Denkichi, from the series Flowers of Edo and Views of Famous Places (Edo no hana meishô-e)


「江戸廼花名勝会 れ 九番組」 「根津」 「河端伝吉 河原崎権十郎」(初代)
Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864)
Other artist: Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (Japanese, 1839–1892)
Other artist: Utagawa Shigekiyo (Japanese, active about 1860–1890)
Other artist: Utagawa Yoshitora (Japanese, active about 1836–1887)
Other artist: Utagawa Kunihisa II (Japanese, 1832–1891)
Publisher: Katôya Iwazô (Seibei) (Japanese)
Blockcutter: Katada Chôjirô (Hori Chô) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period
1863 (Bunkyû 3), 11th month

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Vertical ôban; 37.3 x 24.2 cm (14 11/16 x 9 1/2 in.)
Credit Line William Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession Number11.21818
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

Catalogue Raisonné Salter, Japanese Popular Prints (2006), p. 30, fig. 19
DescriptionThe term “flowers of Edo” (Edo no hana) can refer, among other things, to fires. The title panel for each print in this series shows the lanterns and identifying standard (matoi) for one of the brigades of firefighters (hikeshi) assigned to various districts. On the west side of the Sumida River were 48 brigades named for the symbols of the kana syllabary and grouped into 8 numbered groups (1 to 10, minus the bad-luck numbers 4 and 7). On the east side of the river, brigades were numbered and assigned to directional groups. Outlying districts were covered by special brigades, here designated “extra” (bangai). Each title gives the name or number of a brigade, its group, and its district, followed by the kabuki scene chosen to match it.
Signed Toyokuni ga, in toshidama cartouche (bottom right); Yoshitoshi hitsu (bottom left); Shigekiyo hitsu (center left); Yoshitora ga (top left); Kunihisa ga (top center)
豊国画(年玉枠)、芳年筆、重清筆、芳虎画、国久画
Marks Censor's seal: Boar 11 aratame
Blockcutter's mark: Katada Hori Chô
改印:亥十一改
彫師:片田彫長
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.