This hitoe ro silk summer kurotomesode demonstrates extraordinary technical mastery and refined aesthetic sensibility. The garment features an elegant aquatic scene with flowing streams and fish, bordered by delicate summer flowers, all rendered in the sophisticated yuzen painting technique.

The flowing water motifs, rendered in silvery-gray tones, demonstrate the artist's skill in capturing the essence of moving water through fluid, organic lines that seem to ripple across the fabric.

The detail images reveal the exceptional refinement of the yuzen technique, showing how the artist achieved subtle gradations and dimensional effects within the water patterns. The addition of embroidered gold and silver thread highlights adds luminous accents that would catch and reflect light beautifully when worn, creating an almost ethereal quality appropriate for summer evening wear.

The ro gauze weave construction makes it ideal for Japan's humid summers, while maintaining the elegance required for formal settings.

Artistically, this piece reflects the continued vitality of traditional Japanese decorative arts in the 1920s, even as the country was rapidly modernizing. The naturalistic treatment of the aquatic theme demonstrates influences from classical Japanese painting traditions, particularly the rimpa school's approach to depicting nature with stylized elegance. The sophisticated interplay between painted and embroidered elements showcases the collaborative nature of high-end kimono production, where multiple master artisans contributed their specialized skills to create a unified masterpiece.

It measures 51 inches across the shoulders and 61 inches in height (130 x 155 cm).

This artwork is featured on page 95 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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