This striking hand-painted watercolor is an original and distinct artwork from Japan, dating to the Late Taisho to Early Showa period (1920–1940). Measuring 32 inches by 12 inches (81 cm x 30 cm), this large-scale 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, though it displays some characteristic wear at the edges, and showcases a minimalist, avant-garde approach to traditional botanical motifs.
The composition is set against a serene, neutral dove-grey ground, featuring a highly stylized arrangement of bamboo leaves and maple leaves (momiji). The bamboo leaves are rendered in bold, elongated triangular forms with a high-contrast palette of vermilion red, deep navy blue, and crisp white. Within the red and blue sections, the artist has included delicate geometric kanoko (dappled) patterns, adding a layer of technical detail typical of yuzen craftsmanship. These sharp forms are balanced by ethereal, outlined maple leaves that appear almost like ghosts or shadows on the field, connected by a slender, curving branch that provides a sense of fluid movement.