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The Warning Notice (Kinsatsu zu), from the series Ancient and Modern Heroes (Kokon yûshi-zoroe)


「古今勇士揃 金札図」(=禁札ヵ)
Utagawa Toyoharu (Japanese, 1735–1814)
Publisher: Nishimuraya Yohachi (Eijudô) (Japanese)
Japanese
Edo period

Medium/Technique Woodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
Dimensions Horizontal yotsugiri (quarter ôban); 12.3 x 16.2 cm (4 13/16 x 6 3/8 in.)
Credit Line Museum of Fine Arts, Boston—Worcester Art Museum exchange, made possible through the Special Korean Pottery Fund, Museum purchase with funds donated by contribution, and Smithsonian Institution—Chinese Expedition, 1923–24
Accession NumberRES.54.81
NOT ON VIEW
ClassificationsPrints

DescriptionThe word "Kinsatsu" is written with characters that mean literally "Golden tablet" but also sound like "Warning notice." The scene seems to be the beginning of the story of Watanabe no Tsuna and the Ibaraki demon. Tsuna quarrels with Yasumasa over whether or not there is really a demon at the Rashômon gate, until their mutual lord Minamoto Yorimitsu (Raikô) orders Tsuna to post a warning notice at the gate. When he does so, Tsuna is attacked by the demon. The story continues in RES.54.82 and RES.54.83, which may be from the same series although they do not have the series title.
Signed Utagawa Toyoharu ga
歌川豊春画
Provenance1954, by exchange from Worcester Art Museum to the MFA. (Accession Date: April 8, 1954)