Untitled

Tomioka Tessai 富岡鉄斎

19th–20th century · Hanging scroll; ink on paper · Asian Art

The vulpine figure dressed as a traveling monk, gazing intently at a nearby trap, is the protagonist of the popular kyōgen play Tsurigitsune (Fox Hunter). In this comic morality tale, an old fox disguises itself as the monk Hakuzōsu, whose fox-trapper nephew has succeeded in ensnaring most of the fox clan. Recounting a variety of lore about the wily vengeance of the fox, the fox-cum-monk persuades the trapper to give up his trade. This drawing shows the fox prior to heading home, unable to resist the temptation to take the bait from the discarded trap. The trickster ends up caught, to the delight of the chagrined trapper who realizes he has been fooled by a fox in disguise. The poem on the upper left is by the artist's wife, Haruko: Hito wo nomi hakaru to omou orokasa ni onore kitsune no wana ni kakareri. You who seek to deceive will find yourself caught in the fox trap and foolish.

Artist

Tomioka Tessai 富岡鉄斎

Date

19th–20th century

Medium

Hanging scroll; ink on paper

Culture

Japan

Department

Asian Art

Credit line

Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Yukikazu Iwasa, in honor of Mrs. Shizuko Iwasa, 1993