This striking ro summer kimono presents a bold and sophisticated design that reflects the modernist aesthetic emerging in Japanese textile arts during the Showa period. Against a dramatic black background, numerous carp (koi) are scattered across the entire garment in an all-over pattern that demonstrates both technical mastery and artistic innovation. Each fish is individually rendered through meticulous hand-drawing, shading, and painting techniques, creating subtle variations in their cream and gray tones that give the composition a sense of organic authenticity rather than mechanical repetition.

The design philosophy echoes the principles of Art Deco with its strong contrast between the deep black ground and the pale, luminous fish, while the undulating damask patterns woven into the black silk create a subtle textural representation of flowing water that adds depth and movement to the composition. The carp themselves carry profound symbolic meaning in Japanese culture, representing perseverance, courage, and the ability to overcome obstacles. The sheer ro weave of the summer silk allows light to play through the fabric, creating an almost ethereal quality where the fish appear to swim through darkness, their forms highlighted by the interplay of transparency and opacity. This sophisticated interweaving of traditional symbolism with modernist design sensibilities exemplifies the period's synthesis of Japanese cultural values with contemporary artistic expression, resulting in a garment that is both timelessly elegant and distinctly of its era.

Measurements:  49 inches (124 cm) from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and standing at 58 inches (147 cm) in height

This artwork is featured on page 212 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.

This kimono is also featured on page 96 of the Spring 2022 edition of Arts of Asia.

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