Who painted Dancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a Woman?

Dancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a Woman was painted by Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英 in 1795.

Where can I see Dancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a Woman?

Dancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a Woman is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Dancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a Woman?

Dancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a Woman is associated with Romanticism.

Can I buy a print of Dancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a Woman?

Museum-quality prints of Dancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a Woman are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Dancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a Woman

Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英 , 1795

Dancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a Woman is a print by the Romanticist artist Katsukawa Shun'ei 勝川春英. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1921.350
Credit line: Gift from J. H. Wade

About this work

Overview

This woodblock print, titled Dancer as Kuzunoha, Fox Spirit Disguised as a Woman, belongs to the Oshiegata series, literally “Forms of Cloth Pictures.” The image presents a solitary female figure in an elaborate kimono, her demeanor calm and contemplative, while her attire and posture suggest the transformation of the legendary fox spirit Kuzunoha into human form.

Subject & Meaning

The composition merges performance and folklore: the dancer embodies Kuzunoha, a shape‑shifting fox from Japanese legend who assumes a woman’s guise. By portraying the spirit in a refined courtly costume, the print highlights themes of disguise, elegance, and the fluid boundary between the supernatural and the everyday.

Technique & Style

Executed as a multicolored woodblock print, the work employs delicate line work to delineate the kimono’s pattern and the figure’s serene expression. The palette is restrained, emphasizing subtle tonal shifts that convey the silk’s texture and the ethereal quality of the fox spirit’s masquerade.

History & Provenance

Created as part of the Oshiegata series, the print functioned as a reference model for other artists, offering a standardized visual template for depicting clothed figures. The series circulated among workshops in the Edo period, influencing subsequent prints and textile designs.