Demon And Beauty - Japan Gouache Kakemono Kawanabe Kyosai? (1831-1889) #336

- Studio stamp - 河鍋暁斎 - circa 1870-89 - seems to correspond to Kyosai Kawanabe. Kyosai Kawanabe is a caricaturist painter of the Meiji era. His style, marked by fantasy and freedom, places him in the history of art as one of Hokusai's successors. Born in 1831, he began painting at the age of 7. Shortly after, he joined a workshop of the official school of Kano where he further developed his touch, mixing the Kano style with ukiyo-e. He demonstrated his virtuosity through numerous mediums: scrolls, prints, illustrated books, drawing manuals and caricatures. These made him the first Japanese caricaturist, thus contributing to his fame. The distribution of his caricatures was risky due to censorship by the shogunate. He was arrested multiple times by the authorities. His penchant for sake also got him into trouble. His eccentric personality was reflected in his works, which depicted dragons, gods, demons, and ghosts. He died on April 26, 1889, and was buried under a stone in the shape of a frog, his favorite animal. Kyosai was particularly prolific, producing at least 30,000 paintings during his lifetime. Some are housed at the Guimet Museum in Paris, the British Museum in London, and the Kawanabe Kyosai Memorial Museum, dedicated to him. His career has been the subject of numerous exhibitions since the 1980s. ----- theme: this scroll, called Demon and Beauty, is said to depict Raijin, the god of thunder and storms, and a beautiful noblewoman. The god Raijin is trying to attract the young woman with his hook, as if he were fishing. The contrast between this frightening divine figure and the absurdity of the scene creates an offbeat humor. Nevertheless, the scene also carries a moral dimension. Indeed, the demon-like god tries to corrupt the beauty of the woman who resists and remains impassive in the face of the trap. This is indicated in his expression as well as his clothes, notably the geometric meandering pattern on the fabric (called Ryusui) which would ward off bad luck and symbolize the water that remains pure. Traces of humidity, folds, 2 tears including one with missing paper (see photos) - slightly yellowed gray paper. roll: Height 192 cm Width 45.5 cm + ends. Gouache center paper 128 x 34.5 cm