KYÔSAI (1831–1889) Shita-e (preparatory drawing) in ink on paper depicting an ‘ink battle’. Japan, 19th century. AN INK ON PAPER SHITA-E BY KYÔSAI, JAPAN, 19TH CENTURY. DIM. 18.3 X 27.5 CM (7 3/16 X 10 13/16 IN.) Note Bernard Rousseau writes of this drawing: “We know of one vertical scroll (reproduced in ‘Kawanabe Kyôsai, Comic Genius’, 1996, no. 159) and two horizontal scrolls (reproduced in the same catalogue, no. 160). This drawing is certainly a work intended for a book.”