Hanging scroll, Kakejiku, Scroll - Paper, Silk, Brocade - After Watanabe Kazan 渡辺崋山 - Impressive large hanging scroll with a painting of a ferocious temple lion, signed and sealed - Japan - 19th century

Large and wide kakejiku 掛け軸 (hanging scroll) with a painting of a ferocious shishi 獅子 (temple lion) . It is as if the shishi just jumped into the painting, looking in anticipation at the new intruder (you) . Tail lifted high, and claws at the ready. It has an imposing appearance, emphasized by its body that covers almost the entire canvas. Painted with sumi 墨 (black ink) on paper. The linework of the painting is put on paper with a confident and steadfast hand, with a nice alternation between jet black lines and watery grey lines. Signed and sealed Watanabe Kazan 渡辺崋山 in the top left corner. On the outside an inscription; ‘The temple lion of the […] Watanabe Kôsei’ 渡辺崋山光生之獅子 (Watanabe Kazan Kôsei no Shishi) and signed by a former unknown collector. The painting is set in a Gyô-style mounting. The kami-ichimonji and the shimo-ichimonji (the fabric attached above and under the painting) and the fuutai (decorative fabric strips) are made of a shiny black and gold brocade silk with a vine motif. The naka-mawashi (the fabric surrounding the painting) is made of a beautiful grey/green silk with a flower and vine design. The ‘ten’ and ‘chi’ (top and bottom part) are made of neutral brown silk. The jikusaki (roller knobs) sadly lost with time. This work is in a good condition, with some old restorations to the paper of the painting. Of which the most notable one is in the lower right corner. The ‘ten’ and ‘chi’ wrinkled at several places. Please see the photos as a reference. The wear as stated above are mentioned just to be sure, but are absolutely not disturbing for the appearance of the work. Height 183 cm, Width 127. 5 cm.