Geisha Girl Playing the Samisen

Image Description from historic lecture booklet: "The geisha or singing girl to the "Western" mind fills out the romantic ideal of modern Japan. To the native she is simply a sublimated waitress with dancing and singing trimmings, but she is also a chosen vehicle of Japanese romance. Visions of her dressed in showy silken robes waving a large fan, her black hair marvelously coifed, a fixed smile on her face and moving in rhythmic steps with a special flowing elegance of gesture, rise before those who have seen her at her high functions. Ever to the accompaniment of the tinkling strings of the of the samisen and the full beat of the tsuzumi that picture comes back to the foreigner as the flower of his reminiscence of Japan. ". .Original Collection: Visual Instruction Department Lantern Slides. .Item Number: P217:set 060 021. ..You can find this image by searching for the item number by clicking here ( http://oregondigital.org/digcol ) . ..Want more? You can find more digital resources online ( http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/digital-resources.html ) . ..We're happy for you to share this digital image within the spirit of The Commons; however, certain restrictions on high quality reproductions of the original physical version may apply. To read more about what “no known restrictions” means, please visit the Special Collections & Archives website ( http://archives.library.oregonstate.edu/exhibits/FlickrCommonsNoKnownCopyrightsRestrictions.html ) , or contact staff at the OSU Special Collections & Archives Research Center for details.