Base fabric: figured silk (rinzu) with a subtle sayagata and foliage pattern

Size style: Naga-haori

Family crests (mon) present: none

Dimensions: 48 inches (122 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 37 inches (94 cm) in height

A sophisticated interplay between foreground and background elements distinguishes this garment. The background consists of a dense, organic pattern of small abstract floral or cellular forms in terracotta red against a deep navy-blue ground, creating a rich, almost microscopic landscape of rounded shapes reminiscent of coral or biological structures. The main design reveals Japanese maple leaves (momiji) in three colorways - emerald green, cream, and pale yellow - scattered across the garment in an asymmetrical yet balanced composition that exemplifies the Japanese design principle of yohaku-no-bi, or the beauty of empty space. Each leaf is executed with geometric simplification that aligns with design principles of Western Art Deco, though this aesthetic approach was already well-established in Japanese design traditions. The interplay between the microscopic complexity of the background pattern and the bold, graphic simplicity of the maple leaves creates remarkable visual depth. This sophisticated use of pattern and scale demonstrates how Japanese textile artists could create designs that were simultaneously traditional and forward-looking. The color palette is particularly nuanced - the terracotta forms in the background have subtle variations in tone and intensity, creating a vibrant effect against the dark ground, while the limited palette of the leaves provides striking contrast. The overall composition achieves a perfect balance between the dense, organic patterning of the background and the clean, modernist interpretation of the maple leaves, creating a dynamic tension between traditional and modern, organic and geometric. This sophisticated approach to design exemplifies how Japanese textiles influenced and often preceded similar aesthetic developments in Western art movements, particularly in the treatment of pattern, space, and natural forms.

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