Edo Period Spring and Autumn Townhouse Ladies

The two beautiful women on the right, enjoying the blossoms of flowering cherries are two sisters dressed in kimonos with matching cherry flower crests. Older sister has casually tucked her kimono sleeve into her obi is ladylike. It’s a way to avoid soiling the sleeve.
The left pair of panels beautifully depicts a mother and daughter under falling autumn leaves. A mother has shaved her eyebrows, the traces of which clearly remain. These so-called ‘blue eyebrows’ were a mark of marriage and childbirth, and the custom continued in Kyoto throughout the 19th century. These scenes depicting warm family life were captured by Shōha, an artist who was married and raised three daughters.