Woman playing shamisen, from an untitled series of women at leisure c. 1795 - 1800

This woodblock print of a woman playing a shamisen was created by Utagawa Toyohiro. It's currently held at the Art Institute of Chicago. The composition strikes a balance between the figure's detailed rendering and the abstraction of the surrounding space. Notice the way the linear patterns of the woman's kimono and the subtle gradations of color create a visual rhythm. The careful use of line, shape, and texture invites us to contemplate the semiotic systems at play. The lines of the musical score mirror those of the kimono which creates a sense of harmony between the figure and her surrounding environment. The abstract background seems to flatten the perspective. What is most important here is the visual structure, which destabilizes established meanings through its unique interplay of representation and abstraction. This leaves room for re-interpretation.