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Description
Two female shamisen players are standing near a warehouse building, while a daimyo procession goes by in the distance and two merchants walk into the middle ground. This painting on silk is delicately detailed, with tiny patterns on the kimono and fine fur on the dog and her 3 puppies. Although undated, the work is similar in spatial arrangements and figural style to the 1895-1896 "Chiyoda Inner Palace" nishiki-e print series. While the corner of the warehouse, with its grid of white plaster caulking, gives a sense of place to the setting, the misty areas and overall lack of spatial specificity gives this a somewhat dreamy quality. Many of Chikanobu's bijin paintings from the same time period also lack detailed settings although the faces and clothes are minutely brushed, such as two paintings in the British Museum collection. In this composition, Chikanobu provided an interesting perspective on Edo life, with emphasis on the arts (specifically song and music) in the foreground and politics in the background, joined together (literally overlapping) with representations of commerce. The nurturing animal image adds to the overall sense of order and well-being. These musicians are well dressed, within the sumptuary laws imposed on their social class, and appear to be independent women, who make a living by the artistic skills.
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