In the vibrant Canadian Arctic art scene, where drum dance scenes are commonly depicted, Woman with Musical Instrument presents a distinctive portrayal of music-making in the north. The depicted woman is seated, playing a tautirut, an Inuit bowed zither sometimes called an Inuit fiddle, possibly introduced by Hudson’s Bay Company sailors from the Shetland or Orkney Islands. Her serene expression and slightly open mouth, coupled with the gentle curve of her bow, suggest a song in the making. This print was derived from a larger drawing that included the musician and a dancing male figure. The charming original graphite drawing is featured in Lalonde and Ryan's Uuturautiit: Cape Dorset 1959-2009 (Ottawa: National Gallery, 2009), cat. 35, p. 26.