Two Japanese women - Short kimono

The reference to a 'short kimono' likely indicates a hanjuban or other shorter under-robe, or an outer kimono worn with the hem gathered up for ease of movement. The subject thus suggests a domestic or off-stage moment, where the full ceremonial length of formal kimono has been set aside. This places the print within an established [bijin-ga](/glossary/bijin-ga) sub-genre: the woman seen in a moment of private composure, away from the formality of public dress. Earlier examples include Utamaro's bath-house prints and Hashiguchi Goyō's intimate domestic scenes. In mokuhanga, such compositions allow greater visibility of the figure's outline beneath the cloth, with the keyblock carrying subtle linework at the collar and sleeve and colour blocks reserved for the kimono's pattern. Shimura's two-figure pairings in this register often turn on a quiet exchange between the subjects, registered through gesture and gaze rather than narrative incident.