Who painted Hanshan and Shide?

Hanshan and Shide was painted by Yosa Buson in 1771-01-01.

Where can I see Hanshan and Shide?

Hanshan and Shide is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Hanshan and Shide?

Hanshan and Shide is associated with Nanga.

Can I buy a print of Hanshan and Shide?

Museum-quality prints of Hanshan and Shide are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Hanshan and Shide

Yosa Buson , 1771

Hanshan and Shide is an unspecified painting by the Nanga artist Yosa Buson. It dates from 1771 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

Created in 1771 by Yosa Buson, Hanshan and Shide is a painting originating from Japan.

Created in 1771 by Yosa Buson, Hanshan and Shide is a painting originating from Japan. The work is classified as a painting, indicating the use of traditional liquid pigments applied to a surface, though the specific support material such as silk or paper is not detailed in the available records. As a work by Buson, it likely exhibits the stylistic characteristics of his brushwork, which often blends poetic sensibility with visual form, yet the provided sources do not describe the specific handling, condition, or formal qualities of this piece. The artwork is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

History & Provenance

Hanshan and Shide is a painting by Yosa Buson dated 1771, created in Japan. The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains located. No additional details regarding commission, prior ownership, or chain of custody are documented in the available sources.

The painting's inception is recorded as 1771, consistent with the dating of the work itself. Beyond its placement in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, the available records do not provide further information on provenance, intermediate owners, or the circumstances of its creation.

The painting is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Its accession number is 1975.268.1.

It was included in the exhibition “Buson and His Followers: Japanese Eighteenth-Century Painting from the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art,” held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from March 1 to May 12, 1986.

Overview

Created in 1771 by the Japanese poet‑painter Yosa Buson, this hanging scroll depicts two whimsical figures rendered in loose, flowing robes. The work is part of the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The composition is set against a minimal background, bordered in dark pigment with gold decorative bands at the top and bottom.

Subject & Meaning

The two characters are traditionally identified as the legendary Chinese monks Hanshan and Shide, known for their eccentric behavior and spontaneous poetry. One figure holds a large fan, the other a smoking pipe, both symbols of their carefree, hermitic lifestyle. Their exaggerated smiles and oversized eyes convey a playful, almost satirical tone, reflecting the Zen appreciation for spontaneity and humor.