Imura Katsukichi

Imura Katsukichi was a Japanese artist active during the early eighteenth century in the Edo period. Born around 1700 and passing in 1716, his brief life coincided with a flourishing era of woodblock printing and textile design in Japan. Little is documented about his early years or personal background, leaving much of his biography reliant on the surviving works attributed to him.

His primary known contribution is the woodblock-printed book *Order Book of Kosode Patterns* (*Chūmon no hiinagata* or *Hiinagata chūmon chō*), dated 1716 and held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This volume served as a practical reference for kosode (a type of kimono) designs, featuring intricate patterns rendered in ink with touches of red. Another work, *Ehon keiko chō*, is attributed to him and resides at the Art Institute of Chicago, further highlighting his focus on illustrated pattern books. These publications reflect the commercial and artistic demands of the time, when detailed design manuals supported artisans and merchants in the textile trade.

Working within the broader tradition of Edo-period ukiyo-e and illustrative printing, Imura specialized in functional yet aesthetically refined pattern books rather than standalone paintings or prints. His output aligns with the period’s emphasis on accessible design resources that bridged fine art and everyday craftsmanship. No records survive of specific teachers, formal training, or affiliations with particular schools or movements.

Though his career was short, Imura Katsukichi’s surviving pattern books offer valuable insight into early eighteenth-century Japanese textile aesthetics and the role of printed manuals in disseminating design ideas. His work continues to be studied by art historians and textile enthusiasts for its documentation of kosode motifs, preserving a snapshot of Edo-period visual culture. With only one artwork noted in certain virtual collections, his legacy rests on these rare printed volumes that bridge art and utility.