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Is this kanji or an artist stylized signature?

both, certainly Japanese, possibly reading Sakizan or Murayama 紫山 but others handle Japanese better than I do.

紫山　-　Shizan (Purple mountain(s)
Judging from the backround color it could be a
title of painting - or else the name of Sō　Shizan
宋紫山　1733-1806　 a painter of late Edo period.
(However, the signature of So Shizan according to the available signature sample, is somewhat different.

With regards,
I.Nagy

Thanks Guys, really appreciate the help. This signature is on a miniature Japanese inro.

The story is about Inro (Lacquer ware) and not traditional painting.
In this case the signature reads too,
紫山　-　Shizan
Most probably　the makie-shi (Lacquer ware artist)
Morikawa Shizan 森川紫山
I could not find any biograpy about him, except
"learned and worked under the famous Meiji era
lacquer artist Kawanobe Icchō (1830-1910)"

With regards,
I.Nagy

I.Nagy, thank you so much for responding and taking the time to further research this signature. I'll put it with this piece so my family knows exactly what is being passed down to them and why I loved it enough to want it in my collection.

Best Regards,
Howard Dennis

Thanks so much for researching and translating this for me. I'll put this information in this piece so family will know what it is in the future.

Howard Dennis

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