This silk kimono demonstrates the successful adaptation of silk-screening techniques to kimono design, a relatively new printing method that allowed for the bold, saturated colors and crisp pattern definition visible throughout the composition. Set against a warm coral-pink rinzu base cloth, the design showcases the period's embrace of more vivid color palettes and dynamic pattern arrangements that departed from earlier Meiji restraint while maintaining classical Japanese motifs.
The dominant design element consists of cascading wisteria blossoms rendered in pristine white, their drooping racemes creating graceful vertical movements that enhance the kimono's elegant silhouette. This motif carries deep cultural resonance in Japanese aesthetics, symbolizing both the ephemeral beauty of spring and qualities of grace, honor, and longevity. The wisteria's naturalistic rendering demonstrates the silk-screening process's capacity for fine detail work, with individual florets carefully defined against the textured rinzu ground. Interspersed among the wisteria are bold floral clusters in vibrant greens and blues, likely representing seasonal companions such as hollyhocks or morning glories, creating a lush garden-like composition that celebrates nature's abundance.
The technical execution reveals the sophisticated interplay between traditional Japanese weaving methods and modern printing innovations characteristic of the Taisho period. The rinzu base cloth provides subtle textural variation through its jacquard-woven patterns, while the silk-screened overlay achieves the brilliant color saturation and precise registration that would have been difficult or impossible with traditional resist-dyeing techniques alone. This synthesis represents a pivotal moment in Japanese textile history when artisans successfully integrated Western industrial methods with indigenous aesthetic sensibilities, creating garments that were both fashionably contemporary and culturally authentic
It measures 45 inches (114 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and stands at 57 inches (145 cm) in height.