This small girl’s fine kasuri (ikat) kimono features a striking geometric lattice of interlocking diamond formations punctuated by centered squares. Each square contains a subtle cross-shaped accent, dyed in soft russet tones, while the surrounding areas dissolve into feathered, blurred edges characteristic of ikat. The overall composition creates a rhythmic balance between precision and the organic softness of the kasuri technique, where motifs intentionally blur, evoking a sense of movement.

The lattice design recalls both Japanese sensibilities for ordered repetition and the global fascination with geometric abstraction that would later surface in early 20th-century art movements such as Constructivism and the Bauhaus. Though preceding these Western developments, the kimono’s grid-like structure can be seen as an antecedent to modernist explorations of pattern and order. Symbolically, the repeated squares and crosses may suggest stability and protection, particularly apt for a child’s garment, where auspicious motifs often carried wishes for health and safety. The deep indigo ground further enhances the protective connotation, indigo being historically regarded as a color of purification and warding off harm in Japanese culture.

Measuring 28 inches from sleeve-end and 36 inches in height, or about 71 centimeters by 91 centimeters.

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