The artwork titled “Horibe Yahei Kanamaru” was crafted by the artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi around the years 1847 to 1848. It is a woodblock print and falls under the Ukiyo-e art movement. With dimensions of 37.8 by 26 cm, this illustration is part of the series “Stories of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Samurai”. The artwork is currently housed in the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
The artwork depicts an elderly samurai, Horibe Yahei Kanamaru, in a detailed and expressive manner. His posture suggests readiness and determination, characteristic of samurai virtues such as loyalty and duty. The samurai is adorned in traditional attire, including a finely detailed robe and sandals, with a sword carried at his hip. The print includes a considerable amount of Japanese text that likely provides context or narrative relevant to the depicted figure. The colors used are vivid yet harmonious, exemplifying the aesthetic style of Ukiyo-e, which emphasizes the beauty of ordinary scenes and individuals. The meticulousness of the woodblock technique is evident in the intricate patterns and textures rendered throughout the piece.
