This striking summer kimono features an elegant botanical motif of what appears to be rhubarb leaves rendered in a bold, stylized manner across a deep charcoal ground. The leaves are depicted in contrasting palettes - some executed in luminous golden-yellow tones while others appear in a cooler teal or turquoise blue, creating a dynamic visual rhythm across the fabric's surface.

The artistic treatment of these botanical forms reveals influences from the Art Deco movement that was flourishing during the 1920s and 1930s, evident in the geometric simplification of the leaf forms and their bold, graphic presentation. The leaves are not naturalistically rendered but rather abstracted into strong, decorative shapes with pronounced veining and serrated edges that emphasize their architectural qualities. This approach reflects the period's embrace of modernist design principles while maintaining the kimono's traditional function as a wearable art form.

The detail images reveal the technical mastery involved in creating this textile - the close-ups show the intricate weaving structure of the sha (gauze) fabric, where the botanical motifs are skillfully integrated into the textile's foundation through a combination of weaving and hand-painted details. The visible texture demonstrates how the rayon fibers have been manipulated to create both the structural elements of the design and the subtle gradations that give the leaves their dimensional quality. This combination of industrial material (rayon) with traditional Japanese textile techniques exemplifies the innovative spirit of the Taisho and early Showa periods, when Japanese artisans were experimenting with new materials while preserving their cultural aesthetic heritage.

This artwork is featured on page 218 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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