This sophisticated kimono exemplifies the revolutionary impact of silkscreen printing technology on Japanese textile design, combining traditional floral motifs with modernist compositional strategies that reflect the influence of Art Deco and contemporary graphic design movements. The garment features a complex interplay of horizontal metallic thread inserts that create shimmering bands across a rich burgundy ground, punctuated by delicate cherry blossoms (sakura) rendered in subtle gradations of white and pale yellow. The silkscreen technique allows for remarkably precise registration and smooth color transitions, creating an almost photographic quality in the floral imagery that contrasts dramatically with the geometric precision of the metallic striping.
The cherry blossom motifs carry profound cultural resonance in Japanese aesthetics, symbolizing the ephemeral beauty of life and the Buddhist concept of impermanence. However, their treatment here reflects a distinctly modern sensibility, with the flowers appearing to float weightlessly across the surface in an asymmetrical composition that suggests the influence of Western modernist design principles. The horizontal metallic bands function as both decorative elements and compositional devices, creating a sense of rhythm and movement that guides the eye across the garment's surface while simultaneously grounding the ethereal quality of the scattered blossoms.
The technical execution demonstrates the sophisticated capabilities of silkscreen printing when combined with traditional Japanese weaving expertise, as evidenced by the seamless integration of the metallic thread inserts within the printed design. This hybrid approach reflects Japan's embrace of industrial innovation during the interwar period, when traditional craft industries were adapting new technologies to create textiles that maintained cultural authenticity while appealing to increasingly cosmopolitan tastes.
Measuring 49 inches (124 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end, it stands at 59 inches (150 cm) in height.