Unknown Maker, Japanese

Katagami are stencils that Japanese artists have used since the 700s to create patterns and decorations on fabrics. During the Edo period (1615-1868), katagami designs expanded beyond floral or geometric patterns. This example includes two kinds of Japanese text-kanji, the characters made up of bold strokes, and kana, the slender script undulating around the thicker characters. The words shown here are titles from Joruri, a traditional Japanese form of storytelling.

One of these titles, Kenjo kagami, is also featured in the print by Utagawa Kunisada at right. In it, the noblewoman Hotoke Gozen wears a robe decorated with Roman letters and Arabic numbers. Text here no longer carries meaning, but simply functions as ornament. [see also 13.1383]