3-016-209 - Heritage Art/Heritage Images

Woman in front of the Tagawaya Teahouse, 1815-1842. The winter setting for the image of a woman walking alone in front of a teahouse (the sign at upper left reads ‘Kaiseki Tagawaya’, or ‘Tagawaya Teahouse’) in the chill of the evening is confirmed by the designs on her garments. The combination of snow falling on bamboo and the chilly blue tonality that dominates the composition confirm the winter season. The obi (sash) motifs of bats flying over a black ground echo the nocturnal setting.