Daibutsu no bansho|Vesper Bell of the Temple of Great Buddha
1778
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From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
1778
ink
From the collection of Metropolitan Museum of Art
This print shows two women in bright, flowing robes. One kneels, holding a fan, while the other stands, playing a small stringed instrument. Their clothes are decorated with swirling patterns, and they wear tall, ornate hats with pins. Behind them, a shelf holds a single object wrapped in cloth. The standing woman’s instrument looks like a *biwa*, a traditional Japanese lute. The scene feels calm, almost like a quiet moment in a temple courtyard. Look up Kitao Shigemasa to see more prints like this one.
