Kawanabe Kyosai

KAWANABE KYOSAI (1831-1889)
Shoki and Oni
Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th century
Kakejiku (hanging scroll), ink, gofun, gold, and colours on silk, depicting Shoki the Demon-Queller seen from an unusual angle in a dramatic pose, emerging from the swirling smoke, wielding a sword in one hand, poising to strike a terrified oni grabbed by the scruff of the neck in his other hand, an elaborate dragon-handled staff and a ritual ceremonial stand and banner in the foreground, signed Seisei Kyosai ga with seal, with a wood storage box inscribed on the outside of the lid Kawanabe Kyosai ga, kenpon chakushoku Shoki (Painting of Shoki in colour on silk by Kawanabe Kyosai), inside the lid signed Kogyo kan hei dai (Examined and titled by Terasaki Kogyo) with a seal Ko and Gyo. Overall: 179cm x 49cm (70½in x 19¼in); image: 86.5cm x 26.5cm (34in x 10 3/8in). (2).