Summer Robe (Katabira) with Chrysanthemums and River
Not on view
Supremely elegant, subdued, unlined summer garments such as this robe were made in Kyoto. The design, featuring chrysanthemums and a river, refers to both autumn and the legend of the Chrysanthemum Boy (Kikujidō), who achieved immortality by drinking the dew drops on chrysanthemum flowers. The highlight of this robe is its beautifully executed, freehand paste-resist dyeing (yūzen), which is drawn in sensitive, very fine lines on the thin fabric. The undyed ramie (asa) ground complements the deceptively simple design, in which each group of flowers is depicted differently. The use of gold adds a touch of unexpected opulence and also creates the effect of glistening summer sunlight, appropriate to a katabira made for a high-ranking samurai lady.
