The Blue Kimono 1909

Robert Henri painted ‘The Blue Kimono’ using oil paints. Henri worked with great gestural freedom, evident in the visible brushwork. You can practically feel the artist at work, layering paint to capture the light as it falls across the woman’s face and kimono. This garment is rendered with particular attention to its surface, covered with floral decoration. It has a weight and presence that is almost sculptural, and its folds and drapes emphasize the model’s posture, creating a sense of movement. The kimono itself prompts consideration about labor. It is a cultural object, industrially manufactured in Asia and then imported to the West, making it an item of consumption and trade that Henri could explore through a Western lens. By focusing on the materiality and cultural implications of the kimono, we can challenge conventional ideas about art and design, appreciating the deep meaning embedded in everyday objects.