Woman Playing a String Instrument

In this painting an Ottoman woman in her daily attire, her hair covered with an embroidered and printed kerchief plays a string instrument. Music was one of the most popular kinds of amusement in Turkish harems. The lute in particular, and similar string instruments, have always occupied a very important place in the lives of women. This picture was used on the cover of a special issue of Le Figaro Illustré dedicated to Zonara published in 1908, and also appeared in Der'i Se'adet, a book written by Adolphe Thalasso and illustated by Zonaro.