This lush hand-painted watercolor is an original and distinct artwork from Japan, dating to the Late Taisho to Early Showa period (1920–1940). Measuring 11 inches by 16 inches (28 cm x 41 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 masterful blend of seasonal floral symbolism and atmospheric perspective.
The composition is dominated by a dense, vibrant cluster of peonies (botan) and smaller purple blossoms set against a rich terracotta-red background. The peonies are rendered with delicate white and cream petals, accented by fine red linework that gives them a voluminous, lifelike quality. In the lower-right foreground, the scene transitions into a serene water garden featuring irises (ayame) blooming beside a traditional zigzag bridge (yatsuhashi). Swirling grey lines represent the flow of water, while delicate plum blossoms float across the lower edge, creating a rhythmic and multi-seasonal narrative that was highly prized in pre-war textile art.