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Group shot: 11.21693, 11.21685
Geisha (right), Woman of Ohara (Oharame) (left), from the book Comparisons of the Customs of Women (Onna fûzoku shinasadame)
Group shot: 11.21693, 11.21685

Geisha (right), Woman of Ohara (Oharame) (left), from the book Comparisons of the Customs of Women (Onna fûzoku shinasadame)

Kitagawa Utamaro I (Japanese, early 1750s–1806)
about 1795 (Kansei 7)
Medium/TechniqueWoodblock print (key block); ink on paper
DimensionsTwo vertical yotsugiri (quarter ôban) designs on uncut horizontal chûban sheet; 20.4 x 28.1 cm (8 1/16 x 11 1/16 in.)
Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession number11.21685
On View
Not on view
ClassificationsPrints
Inscriptions歌麿画 女風俗品さだめ 芸者 上方にてハおどりこと云ゝ古代ハ舞子など(といへる。遊人の酒興につきて三味線を業とす。 歌麿画 女風俗品さだめ 大原女 建礼門院世を厭ひて大原に隠れ給ふ。従ふ局内侍黒木を売て生計とす。官女なれバ脚絆履く事を知らず向ふにて合せられたるゆへ今もつて黒木売の脚絆前すねにて合せる此異風なり。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.