紫綸子地松竹梅模様着物|Kimono with Pines, Bamboo, and Plum

Unknown

second quarter 20th century · Figured satin silk (rinzu) with hand-painted details and silk embroidery · Asian Art

At first glance it might not be obvious that the trio of plants traditionally known as the Three Friends of Winter (shōchikubai)—pine, bamboo, and plum—are all depicted on this kimono. The evergreen pine, hand-painted above the hem in green glowing gold against the lavender ground, represents longevity and symbolizes renewal. The fast-growing and flexible bamboo, as the woven pattern of the purple fabric, stands for endurance and strength. The crest-shaped plum blossoms, in white embroidery on the shoulders, are the first flowers of spring and epitomize the renewal of nature. Together, these three auspicious patterns, which originated in China, have a long history in Japanese textile art. Here, however, the playful distribution of the motifs on the surface and the division of the space into a larger dark purple section and a narrower, lighter area represent a new, modern take on a conventional subject.

Artist

Unknown

Date

second quarter 20th century

Medium

Figured satin silk (rinzu) with hand-painted details and silk embroidery

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Sue Cassidy Clark, in memory of Terry Satsuki Milhaupt, 2013