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This boy's kimono presents a repeating pattern that showcases the beloved folk hero Kintaro, depicted as a robust child with his characteristic black bob haircut and vibrant purple and red garments, alongside dynamic carp swimming through stylized waters. The composition employs a sophisticated all-over repeat pattern that demonstrates the influence of modern industrial design principles while maintaining the narrative richness of classical Japanese storytelling traditions.
The artistic execution reveals the period's embrace of silkscreening technology, which allowed for the precise reproduction of complex designs across the textile surface. This technique enabled the creation of bold, flat color areas punctuated by fine linear details, a aesthetic approach that echoes both traditional woodblock printing (ukiyo-e) and the emerging modernist sensibilities of the interwar period.
Symbolically, this design creates a powerful narrative appropriate for a young boy's garment, combining two potent symbols of strength, courage, and transformation. Kintaro, the "Golden Boy" of Japanese folklore, represents the ideal of natural strength and moral purity, often depicted wrestling with animals and overcoming impossible odds through his innate goodness rather than learned skills. The carp reinforces these themes of perseverance and potential for greatness, with its legendary ability to swim upstream and transform into a dragon serving as a metaphor for the boy's own journey toward manhood. The swirling waters and scattered pine needles create a dynamic landscape that suggests adventure and the natural world where true character is tested, while the overall composition's rhythmic repetition mirrors the cyclical nature of growth and the continuous reinforcement of these cultural values in the child's daily life.
Measuring approximately 33 inches from sleeve-end to sleeve-end and standing 40 inches tall (84 cm x 102 cm).