$1,500–$12,000. Common subjects: $1,500–$4,000. Key value factors: Shimura's refined bijin-ga have a devoted collector base. Earlier prints and rarer subjects command premiums.
A woman is caught in the act of getting ready, the Japanese title "Shitaku" (Preparation) describing the rituals of dressing and grooming that precede a public appearance. Shimura Tatsumi turns the behind-the-scenes process of self-presentation into the subject itself, finding in the act of preparation a beauty distinct from the finished result. The [oban](/glossary/oban) woodblock composition may show the woman adjusting her kimono, arranging her hair, or attending to other details of her appearance. Shimura's interest in the preparatory stages of beauty reflects a broader Japanese aesthetic appreciation for process over product, finding meaning in the journey toward an intended form.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Preparation — 仕度 was created by Shimura Tatsumi (志村立美) in Not set.
Preparation — 仕度 was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (Not set).
Preparation — 仕度 depicts figures, bijin-ga, and interiors.
