This opulent hand-painted artwork is an original and distinctive creation from Japan, dating to the Mid-Showa period (1945–1965). Measuring 12 inches by 30 inches (30 cm x 76 cm), this piece was masterfully crafted by a Japanese artist in Kyoto’s renowned Nishijin district using paint on thick paper. The artwork remains in very good condition and served as the essential design basis and technical blueprint for a high-end woven obi.
The composition is set against a deep, midnight-green ground featuring a bold, geometric interlocking step pattern (sayagata) rendered in golden-tan lines. Cascading over this structured background is a lush, asymmetrical arrangement of seasonal flora. Large, multi-petaled peonies and chrysanthemums in shades of cream, rust-orange, and soft violet form a central cluster. From this floral heart, long, elegant sprays of wisteria (fuji) drape downward in a gradient of ochre, white, and pale lavender. The vibrant, saturated palette and the contrast between the organic flowers and the rigid geometric background reflect the sophisticated aesthetic of post-war Kyoto textile design.