In 2002, the MFA Boston acquired the Leonard Lauder large collection of Japanese postcards. The most thrilling images are Taisho illustrations, with their bold block colors and imagery that was modern and traditional at the same time. All have a sense of drama and story line behind them. I tripped over this New Year’s greeting card recently. The ladies both display stylish fashion for Japan in 1932, one woman dressed in traditional trailing furisode, while the other wears a chic short coat, the thick fur collar almost concealing her face. Check out other beautiful postcards in the MFA Boston’s collection at mfa.org.

MFA Boston. 2002.1474. http://educators.mfa.org/new-years-card-women-au-courant-fashion-cityscape-120114