This impressive silk hitoe (unlined) summer kimono showcases yuzen-painted fan and shaded bamboo patterns. It features a discreet 1-inch silk split. Its measurements are 48 inches (122 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 60 inches (152 cm) in height. The predominant motifs are red, yellow, green, and blue fans. In Japanese culture, the fan handle symbolizes the start of life, while the bamboo ribs represent life's varied paths. Opening a fan symbolizes an auspicious unfolding of the future. The bamboo motifs convey constancy, moderation, and moral resilience through their evergreen leaves, evenly-spread nodes, and bending in the wind.

Additionally, there are subtle 'yabane' (arrow feather) motifs embroidered at 45-degree angles. These motifs use stiff, shiny metallic, and black 'urushi' (lacquered) threads. The kimono's design is unconventional, with dual-colored fans emerging at angles from narrow white-lined bamboo stalks, creating a striking effect that blends tradition with a somewhat modern graphic design approach.

This artwork is featured on page 246 of Art Kimono: Aesthetic Revelations of Japan, 1905-1960. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

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