Courtesan with Fan and Koto 1767 - 1799

This hanging scroll, painted by the renowned Japanese artist Chōbunsai Eishi (1756-1829) between 1767 and 1799, depicts a courtesan, an elegant figure in a flowing gown, holding a fan and a koto (Japanese zither). Her elaborate hairstyle and graceful pose are typical of the *bijin-ga* genre, which focuses on the beauty of women. The scroll's delicate brushwork and muted colors showcase Eishi's skill in depicting the refined elegance of the Edo period. The work is currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.