Minneapolis Institute of Art

Three Raccoon Dogs

Mori Sosen

Date

late 18th century

Medium

Hanging scroll, ink and color on silk

Department

Asian Art

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

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.” Japan, Asia

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