Kosode with Design of Spring Rice Fields

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The rhythmic rural landscape on this kosode features newly planted rice fields and the pathways between them, executed in white paste-resisted lines on a dark blue background. Baskets with ink-painted details dot the paths. This robe is an example of two late Edo trends: the movement of the patterning to the front and hem edges of the kosode and the simplification of design toward patterns of white lines on a plain dyed background—shiro agari (literally, "finished in white"). The crest (mon) appearing in five places on this robe has a floral (karahana) pattern.

Asian Art

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The Met's collection of Asian art—more than 35,000 objects, ranging in date from the third millennium B.C. to the twenty-first century—is one of the largest and most comprehensive in the world. Each of the many civilizations of Asia is represented by outstanding works, providing an unrivaled experience of the artistic traditions of nearly half the world.

Metropolitan Museum of Art