This vibrant silk meisen kimono exemplifies the bold aesthetic revolution that transformed Japanese textile design during the early Showa era. The garment showcases the distinctive characteristics of meisen weaving, a technique that allowed for complex, painterly designs through pre-dyed warp and weft threads, creating the rich color saturation and intricate patterning visible throughout the composition. The design reflects the modernist influences that permeated Japanese decorative arts during this period, moving away from traditional subtle color palettes toward more dramatic and expressive chromatic schemes.
The textile features a dynamic landscape composition dominated by stylized trees rendered in a remarkable range of autumnal colors - from deep oranges and golden yellows to rich burgundies and forest greens, all set against striking purple-blue backgrounds. The artistic treatment of the foliage suggests influence from both traditional Japanese nature motifs and contemporary Art Deco sensibilities, with the trees' forms simplified into bold, graphic shapes while maintaining organic fluidity. Cascading waterfalls appear throughout the design, their silvery streams creating vertical movement that contrasts beautifully with the horizontal spread of the tree canopies, evoking classical themes of seasonal change and natural beauty.
The overall aesthetic demonstrates the meisen period's characteristic fusion of traditional Japanese artistic concepts with modern design principles. The bold use of color and the almost abstract treatment of natural forms reflects the era's embrace of international modernist movements, while the fundamental subject matter - trees, water, and seasonal transformation - remains deeply rooted in Japanese artistic tradition.
It measures 50 inches (127 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end with a height of 56 inches (142 cm).