Two Japanese Demons - Gouache Kakemono After Ogata Gekko 1858-1920 #401

Two demons seem to be on a pilgrimage, carrying a cherry branch, with a gourd. Gouache on paper mounted on fabric. Total length 204 cm - total width 32.5 cm + end caps. Drawing 132 x 30.5 cm. Cream paper, slightly yellowed - visible folds - original box. The fabric mounting has small losses (piece of upper left border), cuts. The signature seems to be that of Ogata Gekko, but it is probably a work of a student or workshop. On the box is written: "Tsukioka (ogata) Gekkō - the flower festival (hanami) of the demons". It is a hanami scene (cherry blossom festival). Ogata Gekko, Japanese painter from the Meiji to Taisho periods. Born in 1858 in Edo. Self-taught, he created makie (lacquerware) designs for rickshaws and cloisonné designs for export. From 1887, he created illustrations and frontispieces for numerous newspapers and magazines. He published collections of prints. In 1908, he helped found the Japan Academy of Fine Arts and became a member.