Two Geisha Holding a Shamisen and a Song Book

Two Geisha Holding a Shamisen and a Song Book, circa 1777, is an [oban](/glossary/oban) color woodblock print held by the Art Institute of Chicago. The print depicts two geisha - professional female entertainers whose work centered on music, dance, and refined conversation - one holding a shamisen, the three-stringed lute that was the essential geisha instrument, and the other a printed song book, presumably containing the lyrics of the popular nagauta or hauta repertoire of the period. By the 1770s, the geisha had emerged as a distinct professional category alongside the courtesans of the Yoshiwara, and their presence as subjects in [bijin-ga](/glossary/bijin-ga) both reflected and helped shape their cultural visibility. Shigemasa's mature bijin-ga style - tall, dignified figures with serene faces and carefully observed dress - serves the subject well, giving the two women a poised, professional presence. The oban format and full [nishiki-e](/glossary/nishiki-e) color belong to the high-end print production of the late 1770s, when Shigemasa was working at the peak of his reputation. The Art Institute of Chicago's impression is an excellent record of Edo geisha culture at the moment of its consolidation.