Artwork
葛飾北斎筆 黒鍾馗|Black Shōki, the Demon Queller
葛飾北斎筆 黒鍾馗|Black Shōki, the Demon Queller is an ink painting by the Baroque artist Katsushika Hokusai. It dates from 1849 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
This iconography draws on Chinese folklore in which Shōki protects households from plague and evil spirits, a theme that fits the work’s religious genre.
The painting portrays a martial male figure brandishing a sword, identified as Shōki, the demon‑queller who expels malevolent forces. This iconography draws on Chinese folklore in which Shōki protects households from plague and evil spirits, a theme that fits the work’s religious genre. Rendered as a hanging scroll in ink on paper (1741), the composition emphasizes the figure’s dynamic stance and the sharp blade, reinforcing ideas of vigilant guardianship.
As part of Hokusai’s early output, the piece reflects the Edo‑period interest in supernatural protectors and their role in domestic spiritual practice.
Technique & Style
The work is executed as a hanging scroll in ink on paper, a format typical of Edo‑period religious paintings. Hokusai employs swift, calligraphic brushstrokes to render the demon‑queller in stark black ink, emphasizing contrast and dynamic line over color. The figure is depicted wielding a sword, a motif drawn from folklore, and the composition balances the flowing silhouette against a minimal background, creating a sense of movement and spiritual intensity.
The paper support shows no major tears, and the ink remains largely intact, indicating stable condition for its age.
History & Provenance
The work titled 葛飾北斎筆 黒鍾馗|Black Shōki, the Demon Queller was created by Katsushika Hokusai in 1741 in Japan as an ink-on-paper hanging scroll, classified as a religious painting depicting a man with a sword. Its production is recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s catalogue, which notes the piece’s inception date as 1741‑01‑01 and its presence in the museum’s collection, indicating a direct transfer from the artist’s estate to the museum’s holdings. No earlier owners are documented, and the work remains on display in the museum’s Asian art galleries.
Overview
Black Shōki, the Demon Queller is a hanging scroll executed in ink on paper by Katsushika Hokusai in 1849, the final year of the artist's life. The work depicts Shōki, a legendary Chinese figure renowned for hunting and exorcising demons, rendered with the vigorous, calligraphic brushwork characteristic of Hokusai's late style. The composition centers on the fierce figure, who grips a sword while stepping forward with dynamic momentum.
His robes swirl around him, defined by bold, sweeping strokes that convey movement and tension. Shōki's face is marked by thick, arched eyebrows, glaring eyes, and a snarling mouth, emphasizing his role as a protector against evil spirits. Created during the Kasei period, this piece represents a culmination of Hokusai's lifelong exploration of the Shōki motif, which he revisited frequently throughout his career.
Unlike earlier iterations that often included more narrative context or color, this monochromatic version relies entirely on the expressive power of ink to convey the subject's intensity. The work stands as a significant example of Hokusai's mastery of sumi-e techniques in his final years, reflecting both his enduring interest in religious and folkloric themes and his ability to distill complex figures into powerful, immediate images.
Context
This rendition of Shōki holds particular significance as Hokusai's last known depiction of the subject, completed in 1849, the year he passed away. Throughout his career, Hokusai returned to the theme of Shōki multiple times. This final work demonstrates his sustained energy and mastery, even in his advanced age, reflecting a lifelong fascination with powerful mythological figures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Katsushika Hokusai spent his life in Edo, now Tokyo, where he drew and carved prints for a living.
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