This sophisticated hand-painted watercolor is an original and distinct artwork from Japan, dating to the Late Taisho to Early Showa period (1920–1940). Measuring 17 inches by 12 inches (43 cm x 30 cm), this piece was specifically crafted by a Japanese artist to serve as a technical blueprint for yuzen resist-dye work on a silk kimono. The artwork remains in very good condition and exemplifies the bold "Modern Boy/Modern Girl" (moga/mobo) aesthetic that integrated Western geometric patterns with traditional Japanese motifs.

The composition features a dynamic arrangement of rectangular carts and folding fans floating over a background of wavy, vertical blue bands and a precise grey-and-white striped grid. One prominent rectangular motif contains three spheres bisected by a diagonal line, rendered in chocolate brown and ochre, while another features a classical folding fan with delicate floral details against a dark ground. The color palette—a refined mixture of slate blue, dusty rose, and deep maroon—reflects the shift toward more industrial and architectural color schemes popularized in the pre-war era.

This artwork is featured on page 162 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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