Sitting Lady 1880

This is Shibata Zeshin’s “Sitting Lady,” a Japanese painting. We see a figure, likely a woman, seated in traditional robes, her face turned away from the viewer. Zeshin lived and worked during the late Edo and early Meiji periods, a time of significant social upheaval in Japan. He had a foot in both worlds as Japan transitioned from a feudal society to a more modern, Westernized nation. This shift affected all aspects of life, including art. Zeshin trained in traditional art forms, but his work also shows a willingness to experiment with new techniques and subject matter. Paintings of beautiful women, or "bijin-ga," were a popular genre in Japan. Zeshin's depiction may seem to simply reproduce tradition. However, his delicate style and subtle use of color, combined with his mastery of both traditional and modern techniques, elevates the image. To fully understand Zeshin's art, we need to consider the social context in which he lived and the institutions that shaped his artistic practice. Only then can we appreciate the depth and complexity of his work.