Three Beauties Playing Musical Instruments 1800 - 1861

Utagawa Kuniyoshi created this woodblock print of three beauties playing musical instruments during the 19th century. It is an artwork that is a reflection of Japan's rich cultural history and society, especially its theatrical traditions. The women, dressed in elaborate kimonos, are depicted playing traditional Japanese instruments. The image creates meaning through the emphasis on musical performance as a social activity. Considering the time this artwork was made, it's relevant to think about the Tokugawa shogunate, whose strict social hierarchy influenced artistic patronage. Prints like this one were also widely circulated, and influenced social structures of the time. Were they conservative or progressive? Did they comment on the social structures of their time? These are some of the questions that we, as historians, can explore further. In doing so we can reflect on the meanings of art as something contingent on social and institutional context.