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This ceremonial miyamairi kimono displays a charming narrative scene from Japanese folklore featuring Kintarō (Golden Boy), the legendary child of superhuman strength who lived in the mountains and befriended forest animals. The artwork is rendered in the yuzen painting technique across the lower portion of the garment, set against a sophisticated dark ground with decorative mon (family crests) positioned on the shoulders and back.
The composition shows Kintarō in his characteristic setting among towering trees with gnarled trunks and stylized foliage rendered in muted greens and earth tones. The detail image reveals the fine brushwork typical of yuzen painting - the child figure is depicted with the round, cherubic features traditional to Kintarō imagery, wearing his distinctive checkered maekake (apron) and showing the robust physique associated with his legendary strength.
The artistic style strongly reflects the influence of late Edo period ukiyo-e aesthetics, particularly the work of Tsukioka Yoshitoshi (refer to Tsukioka Yoshitoshi's print 'Moon of Kintoki's Mountain' from October 1890) and his contemporaries. The atmospheric landscape treatment, with its misty mountain setting and carefully observed natural details, demonstrates the sophisticated narrative illustration that characterized Meiji period (1868-1912) textile design. The way the scene flows across the kimono's surface, with trees extending upward and the figures positioned to work with the garment's structure, shows masterful adaptation of printmaking compositions to textile format.
This piece represents the golden age of Japanese children's ceremonial wear, when folktale imagery served both decorative and talismanic purposes - Kintarō's association with strength, health, and connection to nature made him an especially appropriate subject for a young boy's blessing kimono. The sophisticated execution suggests this was created by skilled artisans familiar with contemporary ukiyo-e masters' work, translating their visual innovations into wearable art.
It bears several smudges and light stains. Measurements: approximately 37 inches (94 cm) across the sleeves and 33 inches (84 cm) in height,