This striking hand-painted watercolor is an original and distinctive artwork from Japan, dating to the Late Taisho to Early Showa period (1920–1940). Measuring 23 inches by 17 inches (58 cm x 43 cm), this piece was meticulously crafted for the purpose of transposing its design to yūzen resist-dye work on a silk kimono. The artwork remains in very good condition, showcasing a bold, avant-garde aesthetic that reflects the "Taisho Roman" era’s integration of Western Art Deco influences with traditional Japanese abstraction.

The composition is defined by a large, sharp zigzag or "M" formation that spans the width of the page, rendered in a muted slate-blue wash. Overlaid on this structure is a dense, repeating grid of fine white and red diagonal lines, creating a vibrating, optical effect. Floating across this architectural background are several square medallions containing stylized, labyrinth-like geometric motifs. These medallions are rendered in sophisticated shades of dusty plum and teal, with concentric, rounded-corner borders that give them a modern, graphic quality. The precision of the linework suggests a high level of technical mastery, intended to be replicated through the meticulous resist-pasting and dyeing stages of the yūzen process.

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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