Untitled

Created in 1858 by the Japanese artist Ukita Ikkei, this handscroll depicts a fox within a landscape setting. The work was executed using ink and color on paper. Currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the scroll measures 29.8 cm in height and 777.2 cm in width.

While the specific circumstances of its commission and the detailed chain of ownership prior to its museum acquisition are not recorded in the available data, the piece is firmly attributed to Ikkei and dated to the mid-19th century.

Created around 1858, this hand‑scroll by the Japanese painter Ukita Ikkei presents a continuous procession of foxes across a long sheet of paper. The work is executed in ink with subtle colour washes, and its format invites the viewer’s eye to follow the animals along the length of the scroll.

During the mid‑nineteenth century, Japanese ink painting often explored everyday subjects with informal brush techniques. Ikkei’s focus on foxes aligns with a broader interest in depicting animals in a naturalistic manner, reflecting contemporary tastes for approachable, non‑ritualistic imagery.