Early 20th Century Japanese Landscape Watercolor with Torii Gate Beautiful early 20th century Japanese landscape watercolor featuring a torii gate by Shumin Ota (Japanese, 1884-1950). In this soft and atmospheric vertical scene, a trail winding through trees is marked with a traditional torii, a gate that is usually found at the entrance to a Shinto shrine and symbolically marks the transition from the mundane to the sacred. Signed "Shumin" lower right. Displayed in a vintage mat and frame. Image size: 12.75"H x 6"W. Shumin Ota was a Japanese painter, born in Hirata, Japan in 1884. His work was part of the painting event in the art competition at the 1936 summer olympics. He died on May 15, 1950.