Girl Playing Koto by Chigaidana c. 1765 - 1770

Editor: This is Suzuki Harunobu's "Girl Playing Koto by Chigaidana," a woodblock print, likely from the mid-1700s. I'm really drawn to the intimate domesticity of the scene. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a carefully constructed image reflecting the lives of women in the Edo period, and the intersections of art, performance, and social status. How does the koto function as a symbol? Does it reinforce or challenge existing power structures, particularly considering the artist's influence on depicting courtesans and ordinary women? Editor: That's an interesting question. I hadn't thought about the social implications of the koto. Curator: Considering Harunobu's revolutionary approach to depicting women, the inclusion of the koto invites us to examine how women were both confined by and found agency within the social conventions of their time. Editor: I see it now; it's not just a peaceful scene, it is also a complex depiction of women's roles. Curator: Precisely! It's about recognizing the multifaceted representation of women during this period.