This charming hand-painted artwork is an original drawing from Japan, dating to the early Showa period (1926–1940). Obtained from a kimono dyer's factory, this piece served as a technical design template for textile artisans. The drawing is executed on exceptionally thin, translucent paper, measuring approximately 11 inches by 15 inches (28 cm x 38 cm). Despite its delicate nature, the piece remains in good condition, featuring visible paper folds and minor age-related staining that attest to its history as a functional blueprint within a busy workshop.
The composition centers on a young child in the karako style—a traditional Japanese art motif portraying children in Chinese-inspired attire, often used to symbolize innocence and domestic joy. The child is depicted with a serene expression and traditional bobbed hair, tenderly embracing a large, sleeping cat. The cat, wearing a bell collar, is tucked under the child's chin, emphasizing a theme of gentle companionship. The artwork is rendered primarily in black ink outlines with soft charcoal-like washes used to define the child's hair and the folds of their simple garment.