Presumed Watercolor By Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831–1889) Original Drawing Japan, Meiji Period

Presumed original watercolor by Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831–1889)

He is famous for his depictions of ghosts, demons, and grotesque scenes.

His extremely free and expressive style, along with his macabre humor, are well suited to this composition.

The fantastical creatures in the foreground depict yōkai—spirits from Japanese folklore—with their disproportionate limbs, grimacing faces, and exaggerated anatomy.

The old man sitting on the rock appears to be a hermit or a Taoist sage, while the long white arms descending from the sky evoke a supernatural scene common in Japanese iconography of the Meiji era.

The demon’s form closely resembles depictions of gaki (hungry ghosts) or other creatures from Japanese Buddhism. The limited color palette (gray, black, a few touches of green and ochre) is also very characteristic of Kyōsai’s works.

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Dimensions: 33 x 24 cm

Antique drawing in good condition—Note: Previous restorations—See photo