Tamoto

This oban woodblock print takes its title from "tamoto," the sleeve pocket or pouch formed by the hanging portion of a kimono sleeve. Shimura Tatsumi focuses on this specific element of Japanese dress, depicting a woman whose tamoto becomes a point of visual and gestural interest. The hanging kimono sleeve was both functional, used to carry small items, and expressive, its movement revealing the wearer's emotional state and physical grace. Shimura's attention to this single detail of costume reflects his encyclopedic knowledge of kimono culture and his ability to find rich subject matter in the smallest elements of traditional dress.