This vibrant hand-painted artwork is an original and distinctive creation from Japan, dating to the Mid-Showa period (1945–1965). Measuring 12 inches by 33 inches (30 cm x 84 cm), this piece was skillfully crafted by an artist in Kyoto’s prestigious Nishijin district using paint on thick paper. The artwork remains in very good condition and served as the primary design inspiration for a high-end woven obi.

The composition is set against a dramatic, deep black ground, which provides a striking contrast for a lush, vertical arrangement of seasonal wildflowers. The flowers, including multi-petaled peonies, chrysanthemums, and delicate wisteria-like sprays, emerge from a stylized golden boat (yakatabune) or woven vessel rendered in shimmering metallic-toned paint. The color palette is exceptionally rich and diverse, featuring saturated tones of vermilion, sunflower yellow, cobalt blue, and forest green. The repeated floral motif at the base of the scroll suggests the continuous pattern required for the length of a traditional woven belt.

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