Actor Bandô Hikosaburô V as Jigoku Dayû, from an untitled series

Utagawa Yoshitora (Japanese, active about 1836–1887)

Ebisuya Shôshichi (Kinshôdô) (Japanese)

Shimizu Ryûzô (Japanese)

1865 (Genji 2/Keiô 1), 3th month

Medium/TechniqueWoodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper

DimensionsVertical ôban; 38 x 25.2 cm (14 15/16 x 9 15/16 in.)

Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession number11.16281

On View

Not on view

ClassificationsPrints

Collections

Description

The encounter between the great fifteenth-century Zen master Ikkyū and the legendary Hell Courtesan (Jigoku dayū), who wore a outer kimono decorated with scenes of Hell, became the basis for several popular novels in the early nineteenth century and was eventually dramatized as a kabuki play in 1865. This striking close-up portrait shows one of the leading stars of the day in his role as the exquisitely dressed courtesan, with lotus-shaped hair ornaments that carry out the Buddhist theme of the costume.

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.