Hitoe
1915–1935
- Medium
- Silk and silver-leaf-over-lacquered-paper strip, warp resist dyed (kasuri) plain weave
- Dimensions
- 159.4 × 128 cm (62 3/4 × 50 3/8 in.); Warp repeat: H.: 76.8 cm (30 1/4 in.)
- Genre
- textile
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Styles
Tags
silk (fiber)East Asiantaishoshowaweaving - printedTextilepaper (fiber product)Japanismasian
About
This indigo dyed hitoe (an unlined summer kimono) presents an overall pattern of overlapping and interconnected asa no ha, or hemp-leaf motifs. Taking on a hexagonal form, the hemp leaf is boldly enlarged. A traditional motif, the hemp leaf was an extremely popular pattern for informal kimonos during the Taisho and early Showa periods. The enlarged design on this hitoe is connected to the revival of the Genroku style (1688–1704), which was very popular at the beginning of the 20th century.