This vibrant silk kimono presents a striking departure from traditional kimono aesthetics, embracing a more graphic, almost psychedelic sensibility that reflects the period's embrace of modernist influences.

The deep purple-navy ground provides a dramatic backdrop for the interplay of botanical motifs rendered in an unconventional color palette. Bright golden yellow bamboo grass (sasa) creates bold vertical accents throughout the composition, while the same motif appears in cooler blue tones, creating visual variety and rhythm. The tatewaku motifs - those flowing, flame-like forms that traditionally represent rising steam or mist - are rendered in teal and burgundy, weaving between the bamboo elements like ethereal vapors.

The stenciling technique (katazome) used here allows for crisp, clean edges and precise color placement, contributing to the design's graphic quality. This method was particularly well-suited to the period's aesthetic preferences for clear, bold patterns that could compete with the visual dynamism of modern urban life.

The color choices are particularly striking and deliberately unconventional. The electric yellow bamboo grass against the deep purple ground creates an almost neon-like intensity, while the addition of burgundy and teal tatewaku motifs introduces a complexity that borders on the surreal. This palette would have been considered quite avant-garde for its time, reflecting the influence of Western art movements and the growing confidence of Japanese designers in reimagining traditional forms.

The seasonal symbolism remains intact despite the radical color treatment - bamboo grass and the rising mist of tatewaku both evoke early spring's awakening energy. However, the artistic interpretation transforms these gentle seasonal references into something more dynamic and contemporary, suggesting the rapid pace of change in Japanese society during this transformative period.

The overall effect is one of controlled chaos, where traditional motifs are preserved but reimagined through a distinctly modern lens.

Measuring approximately 50 inches (127 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end, this kimono stands at about 57 inches (145 cm) in height.

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This artwork is featured on page 230 of Art Kimono: Aesthetic Revelations of Japan, 1905-1960. This book, published by Yorke Antique Textiles, can be previewed or purchased on our website here.

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