Japon van citroengele ripszijde geborduurd met zijde met ranken en paarse bloemen, bestaande uit een overjapon (a), een tablier (b), een devant-de-gorge (c) en een losse metrage zijde (d) c. 1760 - 1925

This ‘Japon’ is an overdress of lemon-yellow silk, embroidered with silk thread depicting tendrils and purple flowers. Created by an anonymous artist, it is composed of several parts: an overdress, a ‘tablier’ or skirt front, a ‘devant-de-gorge’ or stomacher, and a length of silk. The term ‘Japon’ itself speaks volumes about the historical context of the artwork. It highlights the West’s fascination with the East, a phenomenon known as Japonism, which shaped art and fashion. But what does it mean to appropriate another culture, to weave its symbols into the fabric of one’s own identity? This dress, in its beauty and its appropriation, invites us to consider the complexities of cultural exchange, the power dynamics inherent in borrowing, and the stories we tell ourselves about who we are and where we belong. It represents an emotional and experiential aspect of cultural identity.