Dyed Screen with Girl and Floral Pattern

Kimura Waichi, a textile artist who lived in Kamogawa City and had ties to Chiba Prefecture, participated in forward-looking crafts groups such as Mukei and Jitsuzai Kogei Bijutsukai (the Existing Crafts Art Society). After earning a special selection at the Teiten (art exhibition of the Imperial Academy), Kimura became a professor in the design department at Tama Imperial Art School (now Tama Art University), and enjoyed a prolific and well-regarded period of his career. This work, dating from that time, was shown at an invitational edition of the Bunten (exhibition sponsored by the Ministry of Education). It features a robust girl with round, rosy cheeks, exuding a rustic charm. The bundle of wood on her back, her striped work pants, and her indigo kimono with a pattern of white crosses are stylized to produce a decorative effect, and are accompanied by numerous flowers, conveying a vibrant atmosphere. The rich color dynamics of the dye accentuate the stellar quality of the work. The screen format, aimed at integrating beauty into everyday spaces, also reflects Kimura’s characteristic dedication to functional aesthetics. (M.N.)