This elegant hand-painted artwork is an original hinagata drawing from Japan, dating to the Meiji period (1868–1912). Originally crafted in Shizuoka prefecture, this piece served as a vital dyeing sample for kimono silk dyers, who acted as the essential bridge between the artist's vision and the final textile. Measuring approximately 10 inches by 11 inches (25 cm x 28 cm), the drawing is executed on traditional Japanese paper and remains in very good condition.
The composition is characterized by its sophisticated use of negative space, a hallmark of Meiji-era decorative arts. Set against a cool, slate-grey ground, a delicate spray of chrysanthemums (kiku)—the symbolic flower of autumn and the Japanese Imperial Throne—gracefully climbs from the lower left corner. The blooms are rendered in a palette of crisp white and muted mauve, with fine, radiating petals that demonstrate the dyer's need for precision in color registration. To the left, a cream-colored mounting strip features handwritten Japanese calligraphy, likely denoting the design number or specific dyeing instructions for the artisan.