Kesa (Formerly Nō Costume)
18th century, Edo period (1615–1868)
Medium
Silk; twill weave with supplementary patterning wefts
Dimensions
109.2 × 178.1 cm (43 × 70 1/8 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
48322
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
The fabric of this kesa was made from N̄ costume material probably woven at Nishijin, in Kyoto, for a wealthy samurai for a private theater. The allover pattern of colorful chrysanthemums was created in the kara-ori technique favored for N̄ costume fabrics, in which the long silk weft floats forming the pattern resemble embroidery. As with this kesa, upon the death of the owner the garment would have been donated by the family to her temple as a prayer offering to protect the deceased's soul, th...
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...