This dynamic hand-painted watercolor is an original and distinct artwork from Japan, dating to the Late Taisho to Early Showa period (1920–1940). Measuring 16 inches by 12 inches (41 cm x 30 cm), this piece was specifically crafted by a Japanese artist to serve as a high-fidelity technical blueprint for yuzen resist-dye work on a silk kimono. The artwork remains in very good condition and exemplifies the bold, graphic "modern-heroic" style that reimagined traditional warrior symbols for early 20th-century textile fashion.
The composition is set against a striking teal-blue ground featuring a large, central zig-zag or saw-toothed band in pale grey, reminiscent of traditional heraldic patterns. Floating across this architectural field are various samurai accoutrements, including a highly detailed katana hilt with a decorative tsuba (guard) and sweeping white tassels, a ceremonial bow wrapped in red cord, and a large diamond-shaped bit or horse trapping. The palette is sophisticated and masculine, utilizing rust-red, ochre, and olive green, while fine stippling and geometric patterns within the hilt and bow provide a sense of artisanal texture.