This chirimen silk haori has a composition featuring flowing, organic forms rendered in vibrant oranges, blues, greens, and yellows against deep black negative spaces, creating a sense of movement that suggests natural forces like flowing water, windswept landscapes, or geological formations. The directional brushstroke-like patterns within each colored area, achieved through silk-screening or kata-yuzen stenciling techniques, add textural depth and reinforce the gestural quality of the design.

The textile's aesthetic strongly evokes the Abstract Expressionist movement that was gaining international prominence during this period, with its emphasis on spontaneous, expressive mark-making and emotional color relationships. The detail image reveals the sophisticated interplay between a ribbed texture—created by extra-thick horizontal threads—and the applied surface design, where the linear stenciled patterns interact dynamically with the fabric's inherent structure. This piece represents a fascinating synthesis of traditional Japanese textile craftsmanship with post-war modernist sensibilities, reflecting Japan's cultural transformation as it absorbed Western artistic influences while maintaining its technical mastery of silk production and surface decoration. The flowing, interlocking forms suggest both the natural world and pure abstraction, embodying the period's exploration of non-representational design as a universal language of artistic expression.

Its dimensions are 50 inches (127 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and 36 inches (91 cm) in height.

This artwork is featured on page 290 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.

‍