Mirror With the Design of a Nine-Tailed Fox - Harukawa Goshichi

A fine woodblock print by Harukawa Goshichi featuring a mythical nine-tailed fox depicted within a circular mirror frame, accented by a red cord.

This woodblock print by Harukawa Goshichi depicts a mythical nine-tailed fox, or kitsune, rendered within the circular frame of a bronze mirror. The fox, a creature of folklore known for its intelligence and supernatural abilities, is shown in a dynamic pose with its multiple tails fanned out behind it. The artist employs fine, precise lines to capture the texture of the fur, contrasting with the solid, dark circular ground of the mirror surface.

Surrounding the mirror is a decorative red cord, a common motif in Japanese art that adds a sense of movement and balance to the composition. The print includes calligraphic text in the upper left, which integrates the visual subject with literary tradition. The use of negative space and the muted colour palette are characteristic of the surimono style, which was often produced for private commissions and featured high-quality paper and printing techniques.

Harukawa Goshichi was active during the Edo period, a time when the production of woodblock prints reached a high level of technical refinement. This work demonstrates the artist's ability to combine mythological subject matter with the aesthetic conventions of the period. The fox is depicted with a degree of naturalism, yet its presence within the mirror suggests a symbolic or talismanic function. The print serves as an example of the attention to detail found in Japanese graphic arts, where the interplay between the central subject and the surrounding decorative elements creates a cohesive visual narrative. The composition is balanced, with the red cord providing a necessary counterpoint to the dark, circular mirror, ensuring the viewer's eye remains focused on the central figure of the fox.