This elegant hand-painted watercolor is an original and distinct artwork from Japan, dating to the Late Taisho to Early Showa period (1920–1940). Measuring 24 inches by 10 inches (61 cm x 25 cm), this piece was specifically crafted by a Japanese artist to serve as a high-fidelity blueprint for yuzen resist-dye work on a silk kimono. The artwork remains in very good condition, showcasing a sophisticated vertical composition that highlights the delicate, rhythmic beauty of trailing botanical forms.
The composition is set against a deep, saturated peacock-blue ground, providing a striking contrast for the primary subject: a slender, silver-white vine that winds upward across the frame. This central vine is adorned with clusters of small, pale leaves and tiny white floral sprigs that appear to glow against the dark background. Layered behind this primary vine are darker, plum-colored silhouettes of the same foliage, creating a masterful sense of shadow and three-dimensional depth. The vertical arrangement and the fluid, "climbing" nature of the design were expertly calculated to flow across the seams of a kimono, elongating the wearer's silhouette.