Fragrance of Spring

Here a young woman of samurai class, with her hair arranged in the genroku katsuyama style, stands in front of a single plum branch. The combination of standing woman and fragrant blossoms exudes a lofty and pure air. The wisteria and pine motifs seen on her kosode kimono have been carefully rendered to show the actual dyeing and embroidery techniques used, namely kanoko tie-dying and gold thread embroidery. Scraps of tsujigahana-style fabric were used as the ichimoji strips of fabric at the top and bottom of this scroll's mounting, showing yet further care in the adorning of this painting.