Preparation — 仕度

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 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.