A geisha leans on the box of her shamisen, A geisha reads a letter by candlelight, while she leans against the chest containing her shamisen (stringed instrument). A willow can be seen in the garden through the paper (shoji) windows. The poem on the wall compares the strings of the shamisen with the 'threads' of the willow. Two texts written by two different authors in the letters, courtesan, hetaera, Keisai Eisen (mentioned on object), Japan, 1825 - 1829, paper, polishing, h 211 mm ⊙ w 184 mm.