The Asahina Tunnel (Asahina kiridôshi): Actor Nakamura Shikan IV as Kobayashi Asahina, from the series Eight Views of the Soga Brothers Story, with the Actors' Own Calligraphy (Soga hakkei jihitsu kagami)

「朝比奈切通」「曽我八景自筆鏡」「小林朝比奈」四代目中村芝翫

Japanese
Edo period
1861 (Man'en 2/Bunkyû 1), 12th month
Artist Utagawa Kunisada I (Toyokuni III) (Japanese, 1786–1864), Other artist Utagawa Hiroshige II (Shigenobu) (Japanese, 1826–1869), Publisher Uoya Eikichi (Japanese), Blockcutter Yokokawa Takejirô (Hori Take)

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Dimensions

Vertical ôban; 36.2 x 24.5 cm (14 1/4 x 9 5/8 in.)

Accession Number

11.43094

Medium or Technique

Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

Not On View

Collections

Asia, Prints and Drawings

Classifications

Prints

Signed

Kiô Toyokuni hitsu, in toshidama cartouche; Hiroshige (landscape)
喜翁 豊国筆、広重(ヒロ印)

Markings

Censor's seal: Chicken 12 aratame
Blockcutter's mark: Hori Take
改印：酉十二改
彫師：彫竹

Provenance

By 1911, purchased by William Sturgis Bigelow (b. 1850–d. 1926), Boston [see note 1]; 1911, gift of Bigelow to the MFA. (Accession Date: January 19, 2005)

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.

Credit Line

William Sturgis Bigelow Collection