This meisen silk kimono exemplifies the bold graphic sensibility that defined Japanese textile design during the interwar modernist period. The composition features an exuberant display of oversized autumn maple leaves rendered in vibrant orange, golden yellow, and deep emerald green against a dramatic black ground, with purple accents that create striking color harmonies reminiscent of Art Deco color palettes. The leaves appear to float and overlap in a dynamic, all-over pattern that breaks from traditional Japanese design conventions of asymmetrical placement, instead embracing a more Western approach to surface decoration that reflects the period's cultural exchanges.
The technical innovation of this piece lies in its meisen weaving technique, enhanced by the strategic incorporation of randomly placed horizontal weft threads of varying thickness, as revealed in the detailed close-up. This technique creates subtle textural variations and luminous effects across the fabric surface, with the thicker weft threads catching light differently and adding depth to the color transitions. The maple leaf motif carries deep seasonal significance in Japanese culture, representing autumn's fleeting beauty and the philosophical concept of impermanence, yet here it's treated with a bold, almost pop art sensibility that transforms traditional nature imagery into modern graphic design.
Its upper inner lining is cotton, while the lower inner lining is silk. Measuring 50 inches (127 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end, it stands tall at 63 inches (160 cm) in height.