three raccoon dogs with fuzzy fur; bottom animal is scratching; middle animal is seated, snarling; top animal is standing

Three Raccoon Dogs, late 18th century

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Celebrated for his depictions of monkeys, Mori Sosen also excelled at capturing the character of other animals. This painting shows a group of three raccoon dogs (tanuki). The naturalistic posing, one scratching itself, seemingly listening, one directly staring at the viewer and the third open-mouthed with its tongue extended, illuminates Sosen’s personal observations of these wild animals. This may be an interpretation of the Chinese proverb typically illustrating monkeys gesturing “Hear no evil, see no evil, and speak no evil.”

Details
Title
Three Raccoon Dogs
Artist Life
1747 - 1821
Role
Artist
Accession Number
2015.77
Provenance
Higuchi Saburōbei, Osaka; (Joan B. Mirviss Ltd.).
Curator Approved

This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.

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three raccoon dogs with fuzzy fur; bottom animal is scratching; middle animal is seated, snarling; top animal is standing