Shōki and Demons c. late 19th century

color-on-silk, hanging-scroll, ink

natural stone pattern

abstract expressionism

abstract painting

color-on-silk

japan

possibly oil pastel

hanging-scroll

ink

acrylic on canvas

underpainting

paint stroke

painting painterly

watercolour bleed

watercolor

This late 19th-century painting, "Shōki and Demons" by Aoki Toshio, depicts the legendary figure Shōki, a demon-quelling warrior, subduing a host of fantastical creatures. The scene is richly detailed, with ornate clothing, swirling clouds, and an intricate, almost chaotic arrangement of characters. Aoki Toshio was a prominent Japanese artist known for his bold and expressive style, and this work exemplifies his signature use of vibrant color and dynamic composition. The "Shōki and Demons" painting is a captivating example of Japanese ukiyo-e tradition, blending myth and fantasy in a visually striking narrative.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

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A grotto-like space is filled with demons playing musical instruments, arm wrestling, quarrelling, and even, it would seem, preaching. Contemptuously surveying the scene is Shōki, the Queller of Demons. A deity from China’s Daoist pantheon, Shōki became a popular figure associated with Boys’ Day celebrations during Japan’s Edo period. Rather than slaying the demons, as dictated by legend, the artist has cast Shōki as an overlord among his minions. Toshio was a curious character at the center of various stories, some spurious or at least embellished. Born in Yokohama, he travelled to the United States under the auspices of a trading company. There he worked as a travelling artisan, a newspaper cartoonist, an actor, and host of elaborate theme parties. He was also known for his painting. The detailed composition, color, and depth through shading and perspective suggest a familiarity with late Kanō painting, though the theme brings to mind Eugene Delacroix’s painting Death of Sardanapalus (1827).