Tanuki (Badger or Raccoon Dog) | Yoshimura Hōryū 吉村鳳柳 | 1874 - 1936

Hōryū made a name for himself as an animal painter. He worked in the realistic tradition that goes back to Maruyama Ōkyo (1733-1795).

The tanuki only became a popular animal motif relatively late in Japanese art history. In the second half of the 19th century, there were even "tanuki specialists" like Konoshima Ōkoku, who was three years younger than Yoshimura. In Japanese folk culture, the tanuki is almost as beloved—or perhaps infamous—as the mischievous fox, though it is more endearing, humorous, and adept at disguising itself and assuming different appearances. Today, it is best known as a ceramic figurine, often found in rural areas on the entrance doors of taverns. There, it wears a traveling hat and carries a sake bottle, appearing as a convivial companion, inviting passersby to rest.

This badger image is fascinating for several reasons. The animal is cleverly positioned in the picture; its turned-away posture, together with the pond's bank jutting obliquely into the composition below, forms a zigzag line that also formally and emotionally expresses attentive searching – here and there.

The animal's fur is rendered with a generous, fluffy brushstroke. The paws, however, are depicted with a concise, almost ethereal quality; one senses that the badger could quickly and silently make its escape. The exquisitely painted face, however, allows us to precisely grasp the keen sense of smell, sharp eyesight, and excellent hearing of this animal.