Bracken Fern Sprouts (Sawarabi), from the series A Set of Five Designs for the Katsushika Group: Textiles Dyed the Colors of Spring Dawn (Katsushika goban haru no akebono-zome)

Yashima Gakutei (Japanese, 1786?–1868)

about 1830 (Bunsei 13/Tenpô 1)

Medium/TechniqueWoodblock print (surimono); ink and color on paper

DimensionsShikishiban; 21.2 x 18.6 cm (8 3/8 x 7 5/16 in.)

Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection

Accession number11.19860

On View

Not on view

ClassificationsPrints

Collections

InscriptionsPoem by Haichôme: Senkaya e/ mare hito kimasu/ ureshisa yo/ hiku te amata no/ warahi toru koro Poem by Monmonsha: Murasaki no/ mizuki watachishi/ norisome ni/ sawarai no te mo/ sorou robyôshi 賤か家へ　まれ人来ます　うれしさよ　ひく手あまたの　ワらひとるころ　　盃長女むらさきの　水きわたちし　のりそめに　さわらひの手も　そろふ艪拍子　　文々舎

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.