Art Institute of Chicago

Kesa

Japan

Date

Edo period (1615–1868), Late 18th century

Medium

Silk, gilt-paper-strip-wrapped silk, and peacock-feather-wrapped silk; tapestry weave

Culture

Japan

Department

Textiles

Institution

Art Institute of Chicago

During the Edo period, artists took liberties with some of the long-established traditions related to kesa. For example, the patchwork process was sometimes ignored in favor of a single uncut fabric with seams implied by inwoven lines or added cording. The preferred technique for these uncut pictorial panels was tapestry weave. In this example, which is particularly Chinese in style and subject, no such lines have been added, suggesting it was used as a hanging for meditation purposes in the monastery.

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