Base fabric: Figured silk (rinzu) with botanical pattern

Size style: Chu-haori

Family crests (mon) present: none

Dimensions: 48 inches (122 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 33 inches (84 cm) in height

 This haori presents a strikingly modern pattern on a rust-colored background with bold aquatic plant motifs created using kata-yuzen. The composition demonstrates a remarkable synthesis of traditional Japanese aesthetics with modernist sensibilities. The aquatic plant patterns appear in vibrant teal green and cream white, with stark black outlines creating a dramatic contrast against the warm background. This composition is particularly notable for its bold, almost abstract expressionist approach to natural forms. The aquatic plant elements sweep across the garment in dynamic, vertical movements, creating a sense of fluid motion reminiscent of the Rinpa school's dramatic interpretations of nature, while simultaneously feeling remarkably contemporary. The linear quality of the design, with its strong contrasting colors and simplified forms, also suggests an affinity with Art Nouveau and early modernist movements. The color palette is especially sophisticated in its restraint, using just three main colors—the rust background, teal green, and cream white—to create a powerful visual impact.

The haori's design reflects the Japanese aesthetic principles of iki and yūgen. Iki embodies a sophisticated simplicity that is both bold and refined, evident in the restrained color palette and dynamic composition. Yūgen evokes a profound and mysterious sense of beauty, often associated with a melancholic or ethereal atmosphere. The abstracted depiction of underwater plants, rendered in a limited palette, invites contemplation of the hidden depths of the natural world. The figured-silk background of the reddish-brown fabric adds another layer of subtlety, interacting harmoniously with the larger motifs. This juxtaposition of the bold and the subtle is quintessentially Japanese, creating a sense of depth and harmony while maintaining a visually engaging composition.

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