public domain created by mori sosen
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Description
Three Raccoon Dogs

From the late 18th century
Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk

Mori Sosen was celebrated for his depictions of monkeys, but he also excelled at capturing the character of other animals. This painting shows a group of three raccoon dogs (tanuki). The naturalistic posing—one scratching itself, seemingly listening; one directly staring at the viewer; and the third open-mouthed with its tongue extended—illuminates Sosen’s in-person observations of these wild animals. This may be an interpretation of the Chinese proverb typically illustrated with gesturing monkeys: “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”

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    Vuccala

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    18th century?! Amazing - I could've sworn it was modern but drawn in a classic style! You basically *never* see wildlife artwork from this far back drawn with such empathy and loving attention to detail, like here on their paws and facial expressions. This is art ahead of its time – or rather, it's western art culture that's taken this long to catch up.

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