Who painted Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha?

Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha was painted by Suzuki Shōnen in 1893-01-01.

Where can I see Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha?

Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha?

Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha is associated with Japonisme.

Artwork

Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha

Suzuki Shōnen , 1897

Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha is an unspecified painting by the Japonisme artist Suzuki Shōnen. It dates from 1897 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

About this work

Technique & Style

It depicts a demonic figure chanting the name of the Buddha, rendered with bold outlines and flat areas of color characteristic of Meiji-era painting styles.

The work is an oil painting on canvas, created using traditional Japanese techniques. It depicts a demonic figure chanting the name of the Buddha, rendered with bold outlines and flat areas of color characteristic of Meiji-era painting styles. The composition emphasizes dramatic gesture and symbolic presence over naturalistic detail, reflecting the artist's synthesis of Western realism and Japanese iconography.

The canvas support shows signs of age, with minor craquelure along the upper edge, though the surface remains largely intact and stable.

History & Provenance

Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha was created by Suzuki Shōnen in 1893. The painting is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is catalogued under the accession number 1991.77, indicating that it entered the museum's holdings in 1991. No further details regarding commission, prior ownership, or earlier provenance are documented in the available sources.

The painting Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art. It was acquired by the institution in 1991 and is cataloged under the accession number 1991.77. The work, created in 1893 by Suzuki Shōnen, remains part of the museum's holdings in Cleveland.

Overview

Created in 1897 by Japanese artist Suzuki Shōnen, the canvas titled Demon Intoning the Name of the Buddha is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The work centers on a single, vividly rendered figure that dominates the composition, set against a muted, beige backdrop that accentuates the creature’s dark clothing and striking coloration.

Subject & Meaning

The painting portrays a mythic demon caught in the act of vocalizing the Buddha’s name. Its mouth is open, eyes bulge, and fists are clenched, suggesting a moment of fervent proclamation. The juxtaposition of a traditionally malevolent being with a sacred chant invites contemplation of the tension between spiritual devotion and chaotic force.

Context

During the late nineteenth century, Japanese visual culture often explored supernatural subjects drawn from folklore and Buddhist lore. Suzuki Shōnen’s choice to depict a demon reciting a Buddhist mantra reflects contemporary interest in the interplay of religious symbolism and popular myth, a theme common in ukiyo‑e and later Meiji‑era paintings.