ticketsMember | Make a donation

Yukihira and Two Brinemaidens at Suma

18th century
Not on view
Masanobu, a great innovator of ukiyo-e painting, gives the classic tale of the sisters Matsukaze and Murasame a novel treatment. The setting, sketched lightly in ink, is Suma's desolate shore, but the colorful protagonists are characteristic of the "floating world" of Edo's pleasure quarter.

Here, the sisters' lover, Yukihira, is portrayed as an urban bon vivant and affects a stylish nonchalance. His flashy robe is patterned with the bamboo blinds of a well-appointed room and features crests of a courtier's cap, furthering the playful fantasy of the Edo townsman as aristocratic lover. A striped jacket and hat, typical of an Edo dandy, are draped on the tree in the background, recalling the fabled pine at Suma where Yukihira once left a robe and cap as parting gifts.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Yukihira and Two Brinemaidens at Suma
  • Artist: Okumura Masanobu (Japanese, 1686–1764)
  • Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
  • Date: 18th century
  • Culture: Japan
  • Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk
  • Dimensions: Image: 33 1/8 x 12 7/8 in. (84.1 x 32.7 cm)
    Overall with mounting: 66 3/4 x 17 3/4 in. (169.5 x 45.1 cm)
    Overall with knobs: 66 3/4 x 20 1/4 in. (169.5 x 51.4 cm)
  • Classification: Paintings
  • Credit Line: The Harry G. C. Packard Collection of Asian Art, Gift of Harry G. C. Packard, and Purchase, Fletcher, Rogers, Harris Brisbane Dick, and Louis V. Bell Funds, Joseph Pulitzer Bequest, and The Annenberg Fund Inc. Gift, 1975
  • Object Number: 1975.268.126
  • Curatorial Department: Asian Art

Audio

Cover Image for 8940. Yukihira and Two Brinemaidens at Suma

8940. Yukihira and Two Brinemaidens at Suma

0:00
0:00
We're sorry, the transcript for this audio track is not available at this time. Please email info@metmuseum.org to request a transcript for this track.

More Artwork

More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Kabuki Play Kusazuribiki from the Tales of Soga (Soga monogatari), Okumura Masanobu Japanese, Hanging scroll; ink and color on silk, Japan

Kabuki Play Kusazuribiki from the Tales of Soga (Soga monogatari)

Okumura Masanobu
18th century
Fagot–gatherer Finds Boy with Sparrow, Okumura Masanobu Japanese, Monochrome woodblock print; ink on paper, Japan
Fagot–gatherer Finds Boy with Sparrow
Okumura Masanobu
Woman Pursuing Sparrow, Okumura Masanobu Japanese, Monochrome woodblock print; ink on paper, Japan
Woman Pursuing Sparrow
Okumura Masanobu
Two Figures, Okumura Masanobu Japanese, Woodblock print; ink and color on paper, Japan
Two Figures
Okumura Masanobu
Triptych of Umbrellas, Okumura Masanobu Japanese, Undivided triptych of woodblock prints; ink and color on paper, Japan
Triptych of Umbrellas
Okumura Masanobu

Related Content

Timeline of Art History

Entries from The Met's art encyclopedia.

Publications

Books, guides, and catalogues published by The Met.

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.