Fox-Priest Hakuzōsu 白蔵主
Terms of Use
Usage Conditions ApplyAt A Glance
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Period
1867 -
Geography
Japan -
Material
Hanging scroll; ink and light color on paper -
Dimension
H x W (image): 122.4 × 47.8 cm (48 3/16 × 18 13/16 in) -
Accession Number
F2018.4.21a-e -
EDAN ID
edanmdm:fsg_F2018.4.21a-e
Object Details
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Artist
Tomioka Tessai 富岡鉄斎 (1836-1924) -
Calligrapher
Otagaki Rengetsu 大田垣蓮月 (1791-1875) -
Label
Different myths surround the fox-priest Hakuzōsu. Many of the stories carry Buddhist-inspired messages against killing animals. In a comical way, Tessai’s painting displays a reverence of Buddhist principles while also communicating his own veneration of Rengetsu. The two of them collaborated on this work when they reached auspicious ages: Tessai was thirtythree years old and Rengetsu was seventy-seven.Deceiving peoplein the fields of Saganoduring the evening twilightthe fox displays its tail, as if a sleeve.—Translation by Michiyo Morioka -
Provenance
To 2004Tessaido, Kyoto [1]From 2004 to 2018Mary and Cheney Cowles, Seattle, WA, purchased from Tessaido on November 1, 2004 [2]From 2018Freer Gallery of Art, gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles, Seattle, Washington [3]Notes:[1] Per information provided by the Cowles. See Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection 2018 Gift List for Freer/Sackler, object file, Collections Management.[2] See note 1.[3] See Deed of Gift, object file, Collections Management Office. -
Collection
Freer Gallery of Art Collection -
Exhibition History
Meeting Tessai: Modern Japanese Art from the Cowles Collection (August 13, 2022 to January 28, 2024) -
Previous custodian or owner
Cheney CowlesMary CowlesTessaido Co., Ltd. 鉄斎堂 -
Origin
Japan -
Credit Line
The Mary and Cheney Cowles Collection, Gift of Mary and Cheney Cowles -
Type
Painting -
Restrictions and Rights
Usage Conditions Apply
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