Kano Tessai (1845-1925), Japan, Taishô era (1912-1926) - Lot 31

Kano Tessai (1845-1925), Japan, Taishô era (1912-1926) Painting (ink and colors on paper) depicting "The Tea of Monsters" (Kaibutsu sencha: title indicated on its box), showing an oni (demon) seated from the front and a lady goblin kneeling in profile and heating water for tea, signed Tessai and Tessai seal with kâo on the right, after the following colophon: "The world is a chance meeting of all monsters (Yo no naka wa/mina kaibutsu no/hachiiawase). Drawing in homage to the monk Hakuin", mounted on silk in a vertical roll, the jiku-saki in wood, in a box (shikibako) bearing an identifying inscription (hakogaki) written by Tessai's disciple, Ichikawa Tetsurō (1901-1987), in 1930 at Saishô Shôja's workshop at the foot of Mount Kasuga in Nara, signed Tetsuro, seal Tetsu and kâo. H. 128 cm - W. 30 cm (painting only) H. 197 cm - W. 42.5 cm (overall) Kano Tessai studied sculpture and painting from an early age, notably in Buddhist monasteries. He did not remain a monk for long, however, and established himself as an artist, first in Tokyo (where he was a teacher for a time) and then in Nara from 1882. He devoted much of his life to the study of ancient works (and their techniques) preserved in temples throughout Japan. He is particularly famous for his many small carved objects: netsuke, pipe cases, tea ceremony utensils, etc., often inspired by ancient works he had copied. His paintings are rarer. Expert : Léonore de MAGNEE - +33 (0)6 73 53 26 25