Bezoek van twee samourai aan een dame, rechts een tuin 1628 - 1694

This woodblock print, made by Hishikawa Moronobu in the late 17th century, captures a scene of two samurai visiting a woman, set against an interior that opens onto a garden. Moronobu was a key figure in establishing ukiyo-e as an independent art form. The image offers a glimpse into the structured social interactions of the Edo period. The samurai, symbols of power, are depicted in a domestic setting, highlighting the intersection of public and private life. The women, adorned in elaborate kimonos, embody ideals of beauty and refinement while also hinting at the limited roles available to them in society. The careful arrangement of space—the interior, the garden, and the figures within—speaks to a controlled, hierarchical world. Consider how Moronobu uses line and composition to convey not just an image, but a sense of the social dynamics and expectations of his time. It’s a moment frozen in time, revealing both the beauty and the constraints of 17th-century Japanese life.