Page 288 - Edo: Art in Japan, 1615–1868

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144 Kiyomizudera; a stretch of elegant created with tie-dyeing (nuishime
Kosode with Views of Kyoto row houses; the pagoda of the Yasaka shibori). In yúzen-dyeing, developed
Shrine; and one of the great bridges around the last quarter of the seven-
Mid-eighteenth century
Paste-resist dyeing, tie-dyeing, and over the Kamo River. Natural sights teenth century, thin lines of rice
include the Otowa Falls and the East-
paste define shapes
that resist dyes
silk and metallic thread embroidery ern Hills. The designer also included applied with a brush. After the dyes
on silk crepe allusions to flower-and-bird painting
3
149 x 130.6 (sSVs x 5i /s) and to the four seasons as well as are set, the paste is washed away.
The method makes it possible to create
National Museum of Japanese History, genre scenes such as the picnic under elaborate pictorial illustrations on
Chiba, Nomura Collection
the cherry blossoms at the upper left. textiles. During the Edo period yúzen
This marvelous souvenir of the city designs were popular with all classes,
• The city of Kyoto, seat of the incorporated timeless imagery into especially the townspeople. This
emperor since the late ninth century, the latest fashion. example, like many yüzen pieces,
had over time acquired numerous
beloved scenic spots (meisho), both The scenes on this kosode are ren- is enhanced with embroidery in color-
silk and lustrous
gold metallic
ful
natural and fabricated. Some of dered in a multicolored paste-resist threads. MT/SST
them are shown here (from the top): dye technique called yúzen-dyeing
(yüzenzome) among golden clouds