Female Entertainer with a Koto 1775 - 1795

Utagawa Toyoharu painted this hanging scroll of a female entertainer with a koto, a traditional Japanese stringed instrument, during the Edo period. This was a time when Japan was undergoing significant social and cultural changes. Here, we see the artist's engagement with both traditional representations and emerging narratives. The woman is depicted in a manner that reflects the era’s aesthetic preferences, but she also embodies a complex identity as an entertainer, a figure who occupied a unique position in the social hierarchy. The presence of the koto is important, as music and the arts were integral to the cultural life of the time. The woman's gaze, directed downward, might evoke feelings of introspection. Toyoharu captures a moment of quiet artistry. He invites us to consider the woman's personal experience and the multifaceted role of women in shaping cultural life.