The artwork titled “Teraoka Heiemon Nobuyuki,” created by the artist Utagawa Kuniyoshi around 1847 to 1848, is a woodblock print that falls under the Ukiyo-e art movement. Measuring 37.9 x 26 cm, this illustration is part of the series “Stories of the True Loyalty of the Faithful Samurai” and is currently housed in the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston, Massachusetts, United States.
The artwork depicts a samurai, presumably Teraoka Heiemon Nobuyuki, dressed in traditional, elaborately patterned samurai attire. He is engaged in a domestic scene, drawing water from a wooden bucket with a ladle and pouring it into a richly decorated basin, portraying a moment of daily life or a specific narrative from the samurai tales. The samurai’s garb includes armor and a headscarf, and he carries two swords, highlighting his warrior status. Surrounding the central figure, the print is embellished with detailed and vibrant patterns, showcasing Kuniyoshi’s mastery in woodblock printing. Intricate Japanese script fills the upper portion of the print, providing context and narrative to the scene depicted. The overall composition reflects the rich visual storytelling characteristic of Ukiyo-e, capturing both the aesthetic beauty and cultural significance of samurai tradition.
