Who created "Two Young Samurai"?

Two Young Samurai was created by Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣 in ca. 1680.

When was "Two Young Samurai" created?

This artwork was created ca. 1680.

What medium is "Two Young Samurai"?

Two Young Samurai is Woodblock print; ink and color on paper.

Is "Two Young Samurai" in the public domain?

Yes, Two Young Samurai is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Two Young Samurai

Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣

ca. 1680

Medium

Woodblock print; ink and color on paper

Dimensions

10 1/8 x 15 1/5 in. (25.7 x 38.6 cm)

Classification

Prints

Culture & Period

Japan · Edo period (1615–1868)

Department

Asian Art

Museum

Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY

Credit

Gift of Estate of Samuel Isham, 1914

Accession Number

JP807

Tags

SamuraiMenHorsesTrees

Art Historical Context

Behold *Two Young Samurai*, a captivating woodblock print by Hishikawa Moronobu (1618–1694), created around 1680 during Japan's Edo period (16151868). Moronobu, one of the earliest masters of ukiyo-e "pictures of the floating world"—ioneered the single-sheet color print, capturing the vibrancy of everyday life, theater, and warrior culture in a time of relative peace under the Tokug shogunate. This intimate work (10 1/8 x 15 1/5 in.) depicts two youthful samurai amid horses and trees, evoking the elegance and discipline of the samurai class, symbols of loyalty and martial prowess. Printed wit...

About the Artist

Hishikawa Moronobu 菱川師宣 (Japanese) · 1618 –1694

Japanese, 1618–1694

Two Young Samurai

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