The Red Kimono

Charles Conder 1868 - 1909

Summary

This painting is of a young, oriental-looking woman in red, flower-patterned kimono with flowers in her hair. She is seated on the ground in a shady outdoor setting, with a melancholy expression. The grass upon which she is sitting is painted in broad brushstrokes of greens.

Display Label

The Red Kimono probably 1901-03 Charles Conder 1868-1909 Oil on panel Charles Conder specialised in decorative pictures that reminded his clientèle of 18th-century art. This painting is like a sketch for an Edwardian oriental fête galante – in French literally an ‘elegant festival’, a decorous outdoor figure scene. Madame Saddayakko, a Japanese actress who was in Paris in 1900-01, caused a popular sensation with her dancing at the Paris Expo of 1900. We have no evidence that she knew Conder, but she is a likely inspiration for the figure in this picture. Bequest of CP Scott 1932.11