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Dancing Fox

   March 14, 2021  1 Comment on Dancing Fox
Ohara Koson is a Japanese painter born in Kanazawa Japan in 1877. This piece, entitled “Dancing Fox” is one of his most loved works as it has a “Kawaii” aspect about it. In Japan, Kawaii is a subculture in which people either dress or act to achieve a childlike cuteness. The image of the fox, dancing with a lotus flower leaf on its head displays that same cuteness. The background being void of color allows the viewer to be drawn into the print and fixate on the fox. Additionally, foxes are supernatural and powerful animals in Japanese mythology. It is said that foxes can punish or reward people, which is why so many think of them as sly. Despite this, Koson showed this fox in a way that would evoke a feeling of joy in the viewer, showing a softer side to the “supernatural being”.

Artist: Ohara Koson (1877-1945)

Title: Dancing Fox

Medium: Washi on Woodblock with Ink and Color

Date: 1910

Dimensions: 14 1/2 X 7 1/2 Inches

Historical Period: Meiji era

Location: Japan

References

  1. https://www.collectingjapaneseprints.com/shin-hanga-ohara-koson-dancing-fox
  2. https://oak.conncoll.edu/visual/asian-art/shain-woodcuts/content/shain005_large.html
Author: Charlotte Becker

1 thought on “Dancing Fox”

  1. Pingback: Geishas and Animals in Japanese Woodblock Prints from the 17th Century to the 21st – Asian Art and Architecture

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