Hitoe
1920–1940
- Medium
- Silk, weft resist dyed (kasuri) plain weave; stenciled (kata yûzen-zome); partially lined with cotton, plain weave
- Dimensions
- 160.4 × 131.2 cm (63 1/8 × 51 5/8 in.); Warp repeat: H.: 73.7 cm (29 in.)
- Genre
- textile
- Museum
- Art Institute of Chicago
Styles
Tags
silk (fiber)East Asianshowaweaving - printedTextileJapanismasian
About
This hitoe (an unlined summer kimono) features an allover pattern of overlapping and interconnected hemp-leaf (asa no ha) motifs with a scattering of blossoms among the centers of various leaves. A popular traditional motif, the hemp leaf has auspicious symbolism. Additionally, it has an older history relating to textile production, as the plant’s fibers were spun into thread for weaving.