Four Friends of Calligraphy: Lady Komachi 1800 - 1868

Yashima Gakutei created this woodblock print called “Lady Komachi” in Japan in the early 19th century. Lady Komachi was a 9th-century poet, and this print associates her with the scholarly pursuit of calligraphy. The image presents the poet washing her brushes, discarding the ink and the words it produced. Calligraphy and poetry were traditionally seen as male pursuits. By depicting a woman, this print challenges those gendered notions. It suggests that women, too, can be masters of art. But it’s important to remember that Gakutei was working within a specific cultural and institutional context. Prints like these were often commissioned by wealthy patrons and academics, who were part of an artistic revival movement. So, while the print may challenge some social norms, it was also produced for an elite audience with its own biases and expectations. Further research into the lives of female artists and writers in 19th-century Japan, as well as the history of printmaking and artistic patronage, could shed more light on its meaning and significance.