Until 1st Jan, 2026
Buy it now
SHUNREI: A HANGING SCROLL WITH A GHOSTLY FIGURE
Lot 606-AK0125
By Shunrei, signed and sealed Shunrei
Japan, Meiji period (1868-1912)
Ink and watercolor on silk, mounted as a hanging scroll with brown patterned brocade and wooden roller ends. This striking painting depicts a ghostly female figure with wild, unkempt hair and an intense expression of anguish, set against a moonlit background with misty mountains and barren reeds. Two haunting hitodama (huma soul floating fire balls) painted in pale yellow wan blue colors can be seen at the lower part. The artist employs expressive brushwork, contrasting fine lines with bold ink washes, to convey a haunting atmosphere and evoke themes of the supernatural, so prevalent in Japanese folklore.
Inscriptions: The signature at the lower left reads Shunrei. The red seal beneath the signature also reads Shunrei.
Dimensions: Image size: 122 x 35 cm; size including mounting: 187 x 47 cm.
Condition: Good condition, commensurate with age with some light creases, stains, and minor wear. The mounting worn with some holes and material loss.
Provenance: French private collection.
Japanese ghost imagery, known as yūrei-zu (幽霊図), has deep roots in Edo period (1603-1868) culture and folklore. These depictions reflect traditional beliefs in the afterlife and often feature spirits with pale faces, disheveled hair, and trailing garments, representing souls who are unable to find peace due to unresolved grievances or tragic deaths. Artists like Maruyama Ōkyo, Katsushika Hokusai, and Utagawa Kuniyoshi helped popularize this genre, blending the supernatural with themes of morality, retribution, and the ephemeral nature of existence.
Natural Light Images for Logged-in Users Only
You can find images of this item taken under natural daylight below. Click on an image to zoom in or save.
If there are no natural light images for this item, please email us at office@zacke.at or use the request form below.
Log in or sign up to view the natural light images.
Click here to request more information on this lot.
How to Buy Online
You must log in or create an online account in order to buy items from the shop.
Click the red 'Buy it Now' button to buy this item. You will then be able to download your invoice and receive instructions about how to pay. Prices include Buyer's Premium.
If you would like to buy multiple items at the same time, add the items you want to your cart. You will then be able to check out with multiple items simultaneously.
Items in your cart are not reserved. Please complete the purchase process promptly to secure the items.
How to Buy Offline
If you would like to buy one of these items outside of the online shop, please contact us at office@zacke.at or +43 (1) 532 04 52.
Our Terms and Conditions
As part of our ongoing efforts to keep our auctions fair and transparent, we encourage you to read our terms and conditions thoroughly. We urge you to read through §34-50) to ensure you understand them. These terms are specifically designed to protect all serious and committed buyers from bidding against non-payers who attempt to inflate prices without the intent of paying their auction bills.
For further reading about non-payers at auction, go here: https://www.zacke.at/aboutnonpayers/.
The main points include the following:
- Bidders must complete their due diligence and clarify all questions about the objects before the auction. After the auction, Zacke will not answer questions from bidders unless the purchase price has been paid in full. Of course, this does not apply to questions concerning shipping, insurance, customs, etc.
- A sale cancellation of any kind after the fall of the hammer is not possible. The only exception to this fundamental rule is our guarantee of authenticity [the Guarantee].
- A Guarantee Claim, however, can only be raised after the purchase price has been paid in full by the buyer and within 45 days after the auction day.
If you have any questions about our policies, please get in touch with us at office@zacke.at.
By placing a bid, you agree to our Terms of Auction and Terms and Conditions.
