Portrait of a Lady

A woman, playing a drum, is wearing a kimono with Genroku-era motifs; her hair is dressed in the old-fashioned style known as the tate-hyogo. In the background is a Rimpa-style bird-and-flower screen with gold ground. The model was Takahashi Chiyoko, spouse of Takahashi Yoshio (Soan), a tea practitioner who was also involved in the management of the Mitsukoshi Drapery Store (now Mitsukoshi Ltd.). At the time this painting was completed, Takashi was engaged in modernizing Mitsukoshi and, aiming at a contemporary revival of traditional motifs, was working out a plan to focus particularly on motifs from the mid-Edo Genroku era. The Western-style artist who complied with his wishes in creating this painting was Okada Saburosuke, whose studies in Paris had intensified his fascination with traditional Japanese culture upon his return. Takahashi's plans and Okada's interests combined in this work, which was used in a Mitsukoshi poster that was used throughout Japan.