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Kuwana: The Story of the Sailor Tokuzô (Funanori Tokuzô no den), from the series Fifty-three Pairings for the Tôkaidô Road (Tôkaidô gojûsan tsui)

(Japanese, 1797–1861)
about 1845–46 (Kôka 2–3)
Medium/TechniqueWoodblock print (nishiki-e); ink and color on paper
DimensionsVertical ôban; 35.5 x 24.7 cm (14 x 9 3/4 in.)
Credit LineWilliam Sturgis Bigelow Collection
Accession number11.25025
On View
Not on view
ClassificationsPrints
Inscriptions船のり徳蔵の傳  桑名屋徳蔵は無双の船のり也 大晦日には船を出さぬ法也けるに ある年大晦日に船を出し 沖中にて俄に大風大波立て 大山の如き大坊主船の先へ出ける 徳蔵少しも恐れずかぢを取り行に くだんの化物 いかに徳蔵こわくはなきや と尋るに 徳蔵びくともせず 渡世より外にこはきものはなし と大おんによばわりたれば かの化物此一言におそれけん 雪霜のごとくきえうせ 波風なく本の如くに船ははしりしとなん 徳蔵が大たんのほどこれにてしるべし
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.
Conservation Status: After Treatment
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
about 1849–52 (Kaei 2–5)
Takiguchi Shinsuke
Utagawa Kuniyoshi
about 1851–52 (Kaei 4–5)