The Fourth Month, from the series "Twelve Months in the South (Minami juni ko)" c. 1784

"The Fourth Month" is a woodblock print by the renowned Japanese artist Torii Kiyonaga. This print is part of his famous series "Twelve Months in the South," which depicts fashionable women in various activities throughout the year. The print showcases the beauty and elegance of Edo-period fashion and customs. The scene depicts three women, one playing a shamisen, a three-stringed Japanese musical instrument, while the other two stand and watch, showcasing the leisurely activities of the wealthy elite in the fourth month of the Japanese calendar, a time of blossoming flowers and pleasant weather.