Antique early 20th century Japanese painting on shikishi – Shishi face and calligraphy

An antique Japanese painting on shikishi, executed in ink and color pigments.

The lower part of the composition presents a frontal shishi face with a red face, yellow eyes, exposed teeth and a dark mane. Expressive calligraphy occupies the upper and left sections of the board, forming a unified composition with the painted image. Smaller gray kana beside the main characters function as phonetic reading guides and appear to be part of the original design.

Translation (interpretative):

“Sprinkling water —
the shishi face
at the shrine of the local guardian deity.”

The short verse follows a 5–7–5 structure. It connects the image of the shishi with a local Shinto shrine and with uchimizu, the traditional practice of sprinkling water outside buildings and along pathways.

The broad calligraphic brushwork, freely arranged text and compact frontal image create a balanced composition in which painting and calligraphy carry equal visual weight.

The bold simplification of form, direct brushwork and subject connected with a local shrine give the work a distinct folk-art character, close to the visual language that became associated with the Mingei movement in early twentieth-century Japan.

The work is signed and bears a red seal. The artist has not been identified.

Japan, first half of the 20th century.

Medium

Ink and color pigments on shikishi board.

Condition

Antique condition. Antique works may show natural signs of age, including toning, small surface spots, minor creases and gentle edge wear, so please review the photos carefully.

Size

Size (approx.): 24 × 27 cm.

Shipping

Safe and tracked shipping from Latvia (Riga Gallery of Japanese Art CloudyYokomido). Protective packaging.

For US buyers

US customs processing is prepaid through the shipping service.