A Length of Tsutsugaki Dyed Cotton: Rustic Drawing

early twentieth century
62" x 13", 157.5 cm x 33 cm

This is a funny length of indigo dyed tsutsugaki cotton which has been taken from a larger piece, probably a futon cover. It is funny for its amateurish look--the unsure lines and the rudimentary drawing are charming elements that give this length a folk appeal.

Why is this tsutsugaki like this? Was it made by an apprentice who has not yet acquired the skills needed to master this art ? Or was it made by a very old artist whose age impedes the skill of his hand?

We will never know but there is something endearing in this rustic portrayal of stylized flowers and the fragments of arabesque that are its visual foil.

The indigo is of a very deep, rich blue. The design is strangely beautiful. The cotton cloth is of a nice weight.

A lovely length of folk tsutsugaki dyeing, it is unusual for its halting style of drawing.