This narrative hand-painted artwork is an original and unique creation from Japan, dating to the Mid-Showa period (1950–1970). Measuring 12 inches by 21 inches (30 cm x 53 cm), this distinctive piece was skillfully crafted on relatively thick paper by a seasoned artisan from Kyoto’s renowned Nishijin district. It served as a high-fidelity foundational blueprint or technical prototype for the intricate woven patterns of an obi, the traditional sash worn with a kimono. The artwork remains in very good condition, showcasing a rare figurative scene inspired by classical Japanese hunt motifs and Yamato-e painting styles.

The composition is set against a rich, mottled russet-red ground, creating an atmosphere of a twilight landscape. The scene depicts a traditional equestrian hunt, featuring three figures on horseback and several deer leaping across a terrain marked by stylized winding rivers and rolling hills. One rider is shown in the act of drawing a bow, a reference to the ancient art of yabusame (horseback archery). The landscape is populated with dark green pine trees and a variety of flowering shrubs in shades of cream and violet. The artist has used a saturated, earthy palette with dark indigo accents for the water and mountains, creating a rhythmic and adventurous narrative intended to wrap gracefully around the wearer.

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