Female Entertainer with Shamisen

early 19th century

Not on view

A young woman with a shamisen and teacup sits on the second floor of a restaurant or brothel. A libretto rests on her lap. The river view beyond the balcony, showing customers making their way to the Yoshiwara pleasure quarters, presents a peaceful springtime scene dotted with cherry blossoms. The round box in front of the woman, used to hold tea utensils, is painted with a Chinese-style landscape.

Teisai Hokuba, an early and close disciple of Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849), emulated his master’s manner of depicting beautiful women, elongating their faces and describing their robes with kinetic brushstrokes. As here, he often rendered background landscapes in a sketchier, atmospheric style.

Artwork Details

蹄斎北馬筆　三味線持つ美人図
Title: Female Entertainer with Shamisen
Artist: Teisai Hokuba (Japanese, 1771–1844)
Period: Edo period (1615–1868)
Date: early 19th century
Culture: Japan
Medium: Hanging scroll; ink and color on paper
Dimensions: 31 1/8 x 11 1/4 in. (79.1 x 28.6 cm)
Classification: Paintings
Credit Line: The Howard Mansfield Collection, Purchase, Rogers Fund, 1936
Object Number: 36.100.26
Curatorial Department: Asian Art

More Artwork

By Teisai Hokuba

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Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 3: Mountain Dove and Peach Flowers, Teisai Hokuba Japanese, Privately published woodblock prints (surimono) mounted in an album; ink and color on paper, Japan — Spring Rain Collection (Harusame shū), vol. 3: Mountain Dove and Peach Flowers
Teisai Hokuba
ca. 1820

Armor (<i>Gusoku</i>), Saotome Ietada Japanese, Iron, lacquer, silk, gilt copper, Japanese — Armor (*Gusoku*)
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Armorer Breastplate inscribed inside, Myōchin Munesuke
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Two fans with auspicious crane and long-lived turtle (minogame) motifs, Teisai Hokuba Japanese, Woodblock print (surimono), Japan — Two fans with auspicious crane and long-lived turtle (minogame) motifs
Teisai Hokuba
ca. 1810s

Shō, Bamboo wood, metal, Japanese — Shō
Japanese
19th century

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