Kawanabe Kyosai

KAWANABE KYOSAI (1831-1889)
The Shichifukujin at New Year
Meiji era (1868-1912), late 19th century
Kakejiku (hanging scroll), ink and colours on paper, depicting a humorous scene of the Shichifukujin (Seven Gods of Good Fortune) during the New Year celebrations, each god in a state of merriment accompanied by an attribute, cavorting, drinking sake, dancing, or playing the board game sugoroku, signed Seisei Kyosai hitsu with a red seal Bankokuhi (Flying all over the world) in the shape of crows; with a wood storage box inscribed on the lid Shichifukujin no zu, Kyosai hitsu, shihon tansai (Picture of the Seven Lucky Gods, painted by Kyosai, in slight colour on paper), signed inside the lid Oju Shusei daihyo (Titled on the lid by Shusei [Kobayakawa Shusei (1885-1974), a Japanese-style painter] to special order) with a seal; and a card slipcase. Overall: 197.5cm x 68cm (77¾in x 26¾in); image: 122cm x 48.5cm (48in x 19 1/8in). (3).