This striking hand-painted artwork is an original and unique creation from Japan, dating to the Mid-Showa period (1945–1965). Measuring 12 inches by 30 inches (30 cm x 76 cm), this distinctive piece was crafted by a talented artist in Kyoto's renowned Nishijin district, the historical center of high-end textile weaving. Painted on thick paper, the work served as a technical template for a woven obi, the wide traditional belt worn with a kimono. While the piece exhibits some minor paint cracking due to its age and the thickness of the pigments, it remains in very good condition and serves as a vital record of mid-century textile innovation.
The composition features a series of overlapping folding fans (sensu) that create a sense of dramatic, rhythmic movement across a deep forest-green ground. Each fan is a canvas in itself, densely packed with seasonal motifs including autumnal maple leaves (momiji), cherry blossoms (sakura), and geometric shippo (seven treasures) patterns. The palette is a rich tapestry of rust-orange, violet, ochre, and pale teal, accented with crisp white scalloped edges that give the fans a tiered, architectural appearance. Long, slender orange tassels or floral buds sweep through the background, unifying the layered fans into a single, cohesive visual flow.