Artwork preview

Tanuki (Racoon Dog) Viewing Its Reflection in Water

Kawanabe Kyōsai 河鍋暁斎

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

A vertical, sepia-toned scroll painting on beige paper. A dark brown border runs along the top and bottom edges. A black line borders the top and bottom. A tanuki, or raccoon dog, leaps to the left over water. The tanuki's head faces left, and it has several whiskers on either side of its snout. The front paws are extended. A dark bush or tree sits below the tanuki. A reflection of the tanuki appears below. In the bottom-right corner, there are three Asian characters, one in black and two in red.

Artwork Details

Date
late 19th century
Medium
Hanging scroll; ink on silk
Culture
Japan
Dimensions
292 × 624 px
Public Domain
Yes
Museum Record
View original
Palette