Beauty with Dragon Obi c. 1830s

Mihata Jôryû painted this image of a beauty with dragon obi during the late Edo period, using mineral pigments and ink on silk. The creation of a hanging scroll like this involved a complex interplay of materials and craft traditions. The artist would have had to be deeply familiar with the properties of silk, ink, and mineral pigments, understanding how they interact to create the desired visual effect. The application of these materials demanded precision and control, built up over years of training. Consider the labor involved in producing the silk itself, from cultivating silkworms to weaving the fabric. And the pigments: these may have been sourced from specific locations, each with its own history. The dragon on the obi isn’t just a design motif, it is also an indicator of the owner's taste and social status, underlining the importance of these goods within the cultural life of Japan at that time. Hopefully, considering this work in terms of its making gives you a new appreciation for its beauty.