Edutainment > Samurai Pictures

Picture of a Samurai

Samurai - Japanese Warrior Class
Detail of a Woodblock Print by Kuniyoshi
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Pictures of Samurai have been a favorite subject on Japanese prints. This page shows a number of fine Ukiyo-e (Japanese prints) with exciting images of samurai warriors. The prints are originals from the middle of the nineteenth century, made by two great ukiyo-e printmakers, Kuniyoshi Utagawa and Kunisada Utagawa.

The pictures taken on this page, were taken from artelino's archive of Japanese prints sold in one of our art auctions since 2001.

Samurai Prints by Kuniyoshi Utagawa, 1797-1861

Kuniyoshi Utagawa, 1797-1861 was one of the most prolific printmakers for the genre of samurai prints. A series about warriros, titled Heroes of the Suikoden, made him so famous that he was nichnamed the "warrior kuniyoshi".

The 47 Ronin

The 47 Ronin
Stories of Faithful Samurai
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"Seichu Gishi Den" (Stories of Faithful Samurai). Mase Chudayu Sasa-aki. This print has an interesting composition. The archer appears to be aiming at the viewer, wherever the viewer stands in relation to the print.

Dated: 1847-1850.

Chushingura and Ukiyo-e
Stories of Faithful Samurai
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Samurai on Black Horse

Japanese Prints
Samurai on Black Horse
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Samurai Wagakawa Kiyohide rides on a black horse into a battle.

Dated: 1856

Japanese Prints - Info
Samurai on Black Horse
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Naval Battle Ship and Samurai

This Japanese triptych print shows a naval battle ship loaded with samurai warriors. It is possibly a scene illustrating the Naval Battle of Dannoura.

Dated: 1849-1853.

Naval Battle of Dannoura
A battle ship with samurai warriors in full armor.
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Oda Nobunaga
Samurai on Medieval Battle Ship - Detail.
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Samurai Prints by Kunisada Utagawa - 1786-1865

Kunsada Utagawa, 1786-1865 was a rival of Kuniyoshi. At lifetime he was considered as the greatest printmaker of his time. Kunisada made some 20,000 Japanese print designs during his lifetime - presumably not all by himself, but many by his students. Also among Kunisada's works are many pictures of samurai.

Samurai and Kabuki

Kabuki Theater
Samurai with Sword
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A kabuki scene. Samurai Ohmi Nariie in fighting pose on a stone staircase. This print shows the difference between the samurai images of Kuniyoshi and Kunisada. Kunisada's designs are more stereotype and lack the vividness of Kuniyoshi's images.

Dated: 1857.

Kabuki
Samurai - Detail
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Loyal and Faithful Samurai

artelino - Art Auctions
Tomonobu - Seichu Gishi Den
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Also Kunisada made a series about the 47 Ronin, the faithful samurai who revenged the unjustified death of their lord. The series is titled "Seichu Gishi Den", biographies of Loyal and Faithful Samurai. This picture shows Kaida Yazaemon Tomonobu, one of the 47 Ronin. The story of the 47 samurai, dating from the 18th century, has remained popular until our days.

Dated: 1864.

Japanese Prints - Introduction
Tomonobu - Detail
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Fighting in the Snow

This picture shows a spectacular fighting scene of samurai in snow and during the night. The triptych depicts a scene from a kabuki play. Kabuki actors are Iwai Hanshiro (right), Nakamura Shikan as Sato Tadanobu and Sawamura Tossho. This Japanese print dates from the 1830s.

Dated: 1849-1853.

Ukiyo-e
Samurai Fight in the Snow
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Seppuku, ritual Japanese suicide - article
Samurai Fight in the Snow - Detail.
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Dieter Wanczura
(April 2009)

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