Mannen haori met een 'studie van elegantie' c. 1920

This 'Mannen haori met een 'studie van elegantie'' by Ito Shoha is a garment that offers the viewer an insight into Japanese sartorial history. What I love about this piece is its hidden surprise. From the outside, it looks very formal and pared down in a strict black. It has a beautiful cut, with nice geometric shapes. I can imagine Ito Shoha carefully considering the exact cut of the panels and how they might fall on the body. But when the wearer opens it, the garment reveals an interior painting in muted colors. It's a painting of a beautiful woman, and makes me think of other painters like Kitagawa Utamaro and Suzuki Harunobu. The artist wants to add a kind of elegance and interest to the inside of this jacket - a secret for the wearer to enjoy. That secret is a conversation that happens between artists across time. It is also a reminder that we can find beauty in unexpected places!