The Syllable Ha c. 1770 - 1773

"The Syllable Ha" is a woodblock print by Katsukawa Shunsho, a celebrated artist of the Edo period, depicting a woman in traditional Japanese clothing sitting on a veranda. The woman holds a fan in her right hand, which is a common accessory for women in Japanese art, and a stringed musical instrument rests beside her. Her intricate garments and the delicate details of the veranda's latticework highlight the artist's meticulous craftsmanship. The print is an example of *ukiyo-e*, a genre of Japanese art that flourished in the 17th and 19th centuries and often depicted the everyday lives of people in Edo (present-day Tokyo), particularly actors, courtesans, and other entertainers.