Author: Kimono textile advertisement.
Title: Large painted advertisement on linen for a kimono textile merchant.
Description: n.p. [earlyish 20th century?]. 137x72cm painting on linen. ¶ This extravagant promotional piece shows three exquisitely dressed and coiffed ladies considering a length of fabric. The woman with her back to us is undoubtedly the crucial judge.I hope my photos convey some of the extraordinary detail: from the hair to the gold embroidery to the red thread that holds the bolt of cloth together. What I can't capture properly is the textures that have been mysteriously imbued into what is a heavy linen. That purple kimono feels like velvet, while next to it the horizontal ribbing is accentuated. If a ground has been applied it's microscopically thin. Has some additive to the colour softened and smoothed the fabric?The upper seal in the bottom left corner includes 'Yamada' but I'm lost after that. I think the lower seal can translate as 'mountain spirit'. Artist's name or establishment? I don't know. Any actual knowledge gratefully accepted.

Keywords: graphic commercial art advertising costume textiles c20th Japan