The kimono is not only one of the simplest silhouettes in the history of dress—a perfectly symmetrical T shape, with panels sometimes hanging from the sleeves—it is a canvas. Silk, cotton, synthetic blends. Embroidered, printed, resist-dyed. A garden of textile choices has for centuries made the kimono an irresistible image in Japanese prints. And in the late 19th century, its silhouette began to influence Western fashion design. The Met Museum holds the renowned John C. Weber collection of Japanese art, and selections from that collection are part of this exhibition, which traces the kimono’s history from the Late Edo period to the modern day. —Laura Jacobs