Antique Japanese Shikishi Painting
Original Antique Japanese Nihonga Shikishi Painting, Noh Theatre Warrior & Priestess, Signed “Yūsai”, Kyosai School Influence, Meiji-Taisho
Original Antique Japanese Nihonga Shikishi Painting, Noh Theatre Warrior & Priestess, Signed “Yūsai”, Kyosai School Influence, Meiji-Taisho
Antique Japanese Painting | Original Nihonga on Shikishi | Late Meiji – Taisho Period
This is a rare original hand-painted Nihonga artwork on traditional shikishi board (decorative paperboard used for calligraphy and painting).
This artwork was produced using a traditional woodblock outline as a base, then meticulously hand-painted with natural mineral pigments and sumi ink. This method, known as tesaishoku (hand-colored print), was common in the Kyosai and Tsukioka Kogyo circles for depicting Noh theatre scenes. Each hand-colored version is unique and bears the individual artist’s seal and brushmark.
The artwork depicts a striking scene inspired by Noh theatre: a mythic warrior spirit with flowing white hair and a priestess in ceremonial attire.
The brushwork, pigment technique, and the use of mineral colors reflect the influence of the Kawanabe Kyosai school (暁斎画塾).
The piece is signed with the artist’s pseudonym 「幽斎」(Yūsai) and bears a round red seal 「幽斎之印」.
As part of our research, the seal and calligraphic style have been carefully compared with entries in Japanese professional seal dictionaries (『篆刻大辞典』/『印章辞典』).
According to this research, the piece was most likely painted by a lesser-known student or follower from the Kyosai circle during the late Meiji to early Taisho era (circa 1890–1920).
This is a rare original hand-painted Nihonga artwork on traditional shikishi board (decorative paperboard used for calligraphy and painting).
This artwork was produced using a traditional woodblock outline as a base, then meticulously hand-painted with natural mineral pigments and sumi ink. This method, known as tesaishoku (hand-colored print), was common in the Kyosai and Tsukioka Kogyo circles for depicting Noh theatre scenes. Each hand-colored version is unique and bears the individual artist’s seal and brushmark.
The artwork depicts a striking scene inspired by Noh theatre: a mythic warrior spirit with flowing white hair and a priestess in ceremonial attire.
The brushwork, pigment technique, and the use of mineral colors reflect the influence of the Kawanabe Kyosai school (暁斎画塾).
The piece is signed with the artist’s pseudonym 「幽斎」(Yūsai) and bears a round red seal 「幽斎之印」.
As part of our research, the seal and calligraphic style have been carefully compared with entries in Japanese professional seal dictionaries (『篆刻大辞典』/『印章辞典』).
According to this research, the piece was most likely painted by a lesser-known student or follower from the Kyosai circle during the late Meiji to early Taisho era (circa 1890–1920).