DISCOVERART

Artist unknown Japanese, mid- to late 18th century

The Dancing Fox

1766
Color woodblock print; chuban
25.2 × 18.8 cm (9.9 × 7.4 in)

SEE IT IN PERSON

Not currently on view

In the collection of Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago · as of July 2026

View at artic.edu ↗Plan a visit ↗

Discussion

FROM THE ART INSTITUTE OF CHICAGO’S CATALOG

A fox dressed as a Shintô priest beats a drum and dances by a shrine, probably Inari Taisha, which was dedicated to the fox god. Part of the name of the drum ( taiko ) sounds like the Japanese word for big or long ( dai ), and this reveals that the numerals appearing in relief on the fox’s clothing are the long months of the year 1766.

Source ↗

Be the first to share your thoughts.

Sign in to join the discussion.

Community guidelines

More like this

Cat Playing with a Toy Butterfly, from the series "Thirty-six Pictures of Birds (Sanjuroku kinzoku)"Totoya Hokkei — Cat Playing with a Toy Butterfly, from the sBamboo and TigerNishimura Shigenaga — Bamboo and TigerDancing FoxOhara Koson (Japanese, 1877–1945) — Dancing FoxThe Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as a Monkey in the Play Mitsu Ningyo Yayoi no Hinagata, Performed at the Nakamura Theater in the Second Month, 1785Katsukawa Shunkо̄ — The Actor Ichimura Uzaemon IX as a MonkeThe Actor Nakamura Juzo II as Kajiwara Genta Kagetoki in the Play Izu-goyomi Shibai no Ganjitsu, Performed at the Morita Theater in the Eleventh Month, 1772Katsukawa Shunsho — The Actor Nakamura Juzo II as Kajiwara G孫悟空|The Monkey King Songokū, from the Chinese novel Journey to the WestYashima Gakutei — 孫悟空|The Monkey King Songokū, from the ChinBlack DogIsoda Koryusai — Black DogDemon Intoning the Name of the BuddhaSuzuki Shōnen (Japanese, 1849–1918) — Demon Intoning the NamThe Actor Bando Matakuro ITorii Kiyonobu I — The Actor Bando Matakuro IArtworkHokusai SchoolThe Bad Tiger CubArtist Unknown Japanese, 18th century — The Bad Tiger CubTiger, from the series "Fashionable Twelve Signs of the Zodiac (Furyu juni shi)"Isoda Koryusai — Tiger, from the series "Fashionable Twelve