This rare and evocative textile originates from Japan’s late Meiji period (1868–1912), an era marked by the convergence of centuries-old craftsmanship and a burgeoning modern aesthetic. Measuring 14 inches (36 cm) in width and approximately 120 inches (305 cm) in length, this exceptionally long panel was originally hand-painted for a woman's kimono but remains unused in its original bolt-like form. The material is a remarkably fine silk with a thin, delicate texture that is often compared to rice paper, a characteristic typical of high-quality summer or undergarment silks from the late 19th century. While in very good condition, the panel exhibits small moth holes and a faint patina, which serve as scholarly markers of its over century-long history.
The visual narrative is set against a pale, ethereal background and features a series of hand-painted landscapes rendered in the yuzen (resist-dyeing) style. The scenery depicts a traditional "sansuiga" (mountain and water) landscape, characterized by soft ink-wash tones of grey, charcoal, and subtle blue that evoke the misty atmosphere of the Japanese countryside. Prominently featured near the top of the panel is a white mon (family crest), which would have been positioned at the back of the neck in the finished garment to signify the wearer's lineage and the kimono's high level of formality. This combination of a singular family emblem and a refined, wide-spanning landscape reflects the Meiji-era preference for understated elegance and "tagasode" (poetic longing) in women’s formal attire.