Japanese

This early twentieth-century Nō robe echoes the taste of the Edo Period (1603-1867) in its large horizontal planes of color and randomly scattered patterns. The decoration on this under robe refers to the nuihaku tradition of ornamentation, in which the technique of embroidery and surihaku (applied metallic leaf) are combined. The artist used couching to create the trompe l'oeil effect of the blinds and also to depict the cherry and mandarin-orange branches scattered on the tan satin background. In addition to couching, the embroiderer also has used stem stitch, satin stitch, long and short satin stitch, and knot stitch.