Courtier Playing a Flute to Accompany a Bugaku Dance 1810

This woodblock print, "Courtier Playing a Flute to Accompany a Bugaku Dance" by Kubo Shunman (1757–1820), depicts a traditional Japanese court dance called bugaku. The print, created in 1810, shows a musician playing a flute to accompany a dancer, who is partially obscured by the frame. The composition highlights the formality of the dance, with the musician dressed in lavish robes and the scene set against a backdrop of a palace building and a full moon. Shunman's prints are known for their exquisite detail and vivid colors, capturing the beauty and elegance of traditional Japanese arts. The use of woodblock printing as a medium was pivotal in the widespread dissemination of Japanese art and culture during the Edo period, contributing to the development of ukiyo-e.