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Woman Doctor (Onna ishi) (right), Haikai Poet (Haikaishi) (left), from the book Comparisons of the Customs of Women (Onna fûzoku shinasadame)
Woman Doctor (Onna ishi) (right), Haikai Poet (Haikaishi) (left), from the book Comparisons of the Customs of Women (Onna fûzoku shinasadame)

Woman Doctor (Onna ishi) (right), Haikai Poet (Haikaishi) (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; 20.5 x 28.1 cm (8 1/16 x 11 1/16 in.)
Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession number11.21686
On View
Not on view
ClassificationsPrints
Inscriptions歌麿画　女風俗品さだめ　女医者 医ハ生死を預かるの大業なれバ女の知の及び難きところなれども、人身の病我と異なる事なし。さすれバ婦人の病苦を救ふハその頼みなきにしもあらず。 歌麿画　女風俗品さだめ　俳諧師 松永貞徳連歌の方式を規矩にして俳諧の方式を立しより連歌俳諧二物になりてこの道盛んに行われ、丹州の捨女、勢州の園女、加賀の千代いづれもこの道の名人なり。素園(千代女)が句に 蝶々や　女の道の　あとやさき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.
Group shot: 50.21, 11.21692
Apprentice Courtesan (Shinzô) (right), Female Peddler (Onna akindo) (left), from the book Comparisons of the Customs of Women (Onna fûzoku shinasadame)
Kitagawa Utamaro I
about 1795 (Kansei 7)
Five Beauties Playing Go (from right): Tachibanaya Otatsu, Naniwaya Okita, Tomimoto Toyohina, Takashima Ohisa, Hiranoya Oseyo
Five Beauties Playing Go (from right): Tachibanaya Otatsu, Naniwaya Okita, Tomimoto Toyohina, Takashima Ohisa, Hiranoya Oseyo
Kitagawa Utamaro I
about 1793–94 (Kansei 5–6)
Debut of a Geisha (Geisha hirome no zu), from the book Seirô ehon nenjû gyôji (Picturebook of Annual Events in the Yoshiwara)
Debut of a Geisha (Geisha hirome no zu), from the book Seirô ehon nenjû gyôji (Picturebook of Annual Events in the Yoshiwara)
Kitagawa Utamaro I
1804 (Kyôwa 4/Bunka 1)
First Meeting (Shokai no zu), from the book Seirô ehon nenjû gyôji (Picturebook of Annual Events in the Yoshiwara)
First Meeting (Shokai no zu), from the book Seirô ehon nenjû gyôji (Picturebook of Annual Events in the Yoshiwara)
Kitagawa Utamaro I
1804 (Kyôwa 4/Bunka 1)
Party for the Intimate Customer (Irokyaku no zashiki), from the book Seirô ehon nenjû gyôji (Picturebook of Annual Events in the Yoshiwara)
Party for the Intimate Customer (Irokyaku no zashiki), from the book Seirô ehon nenjû gyôji (Picturebook of Annual Events in the Yoshiwara)
Kitagawa Utamaro I
1804 (Kyôwa 4/Bunka 1)
Parting the Next Morning (Kôchô kinuginu no zu), from the book Seirô ehon nenjû gyôji (Picturebook of Annual Events in the Yoshiwara)
Parting the Next Morning (Kôchô kinuginu no zu), from the book Seirô ehon nenjû gyôji (Picturebook of Annual Events in the Yoshiwara)
Kitagawa Utamaro I
1804 (Kyôwa 4/Bunka 1)
Pounding Dough for New Year Ricecakes (Mochizuki no zu), from the book Seirô ehon nenjû gyôji (Picturebook of Annual Events in the Yoshiwara)
Pounding Dough for New Year Ricecakes (Mochizuki no zu), from the book Seirô ehon nenjû gyôji (Picturebook of Annual Events in the Yoshiwara)
Kitagawa Utamaro I
1804 (Kyôwa 4/Bunka 1)
Lovers Parting in the Morning, from the series Elegant Five-Needled Pine (Fûryû goyô no matsu)
Lovers Parting in the Morning, from the series Elegant Five-Needled Pine (Fûryû goyô no matsu)
Kitagawa Utamaro I
Group shot: 11.21682, 11.21684
Russet Brown (Tobi-iro) (right) and Purple (Murasaki-iro) (left), pages from an unidentified book of couples in suggestive poses compared to colors
Kitagawa Utamaro I
about 1800s
Group shot: 11.21682, 11.21684
Gray (Nezumi-iro) (right) and Pale Yellow (Asagi-iro) (left), pages from an unidentified book of couples in suggestive poses compared to colors
Kitagawa Utamaro I
about 1800s
Group shot: 50.22, 11.21683
Bright Blue (Hana-iro) (right) and Pale Blue (Sora-iro) (left), pages from an unidentified book of couples in suggestive poses compared to colors
Kitagawa Utamaro I
about 1800s
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
about 1795 (Kansei 7)