Kesa
18th century, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium
Silk and gilt-paper strip; twill weave with secondary binding warps and supplementary patterning wefts, with couched plied silk
Dimensions
116.5 × 216.5 cm (45 7/8 × 85 1/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
4982
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
During the kesa's early history, the design of the garment was highly codified, based upon the standards and practices of individual sects. But during the Edo period, when Japan essentially closed its borders and artists looked inward for inspiration, innovations were introduced that challenged this rigid tradition. The columns of patches universal to kesas were now occasionally inferred by motifs that created the desired impression, such as lines drawn on the surface of the uncut fabric or, as ...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...