Dancer in Yellow

This charming modern print portrays a dancing young beauty wearing a bright yellow kimono. A modern girl, she sports a fashionable hairstyle characteristic of the post-war era. Kawano used the woodgrain of the printing block to suggest the pattern of the yellow fabric. Playing on the swinging body and the contrast between black and yellow colours, the artist created a gentle sense of movement in this work.

The design of the kimono lends itself impeccably to lyricism and dance. The movement and positioning of sleeves, for example, can tell intricate stories, whilst accessories such as fans can be used expressively or as visual props for storytelling.