Father Blessing His Prodigal Son, with Fox Devil
Item
Title
Father Blessing His Prodigal Son, with Fox Devil
Creator
Sadao WANTANABE
Japanese, 1913-1996
Japanese, 1913-1996
Date
1983
Materials
Stencil Print
Measurements
Plate: 7-7/8 x 7-3/8 in. (20.1 x 18.8 cm), sheet: 13-1/4 x 9 in. (33.7 x 23 cm)
Description
Father Blessing his Prodigal Son, with Fox Devil depicts the reunion of the prodigal son and his father, from a parable told by Jesus. In the parable, the younger of two sons asks his father for his inheritance, and then takes his fortune to a distant land, where he squanders it. When he realizes his mistake, he returns home. Instead of scolding, his father welcomes him with love and compassion. The son has his head down and kneels; his back is turned to the fox demon, a Japanese representation of bewitchment. In another print of The Last Supper (not in this exhibition) Watanabe shows Jesus and the Disciples sitting on the floor around a low table with plates of fish, and Judas’ kimono is decorated with a fox design.
Source
Palmer Museum of Art, The Pennsylvania State University, Gift of William E. Harkins
Identifier
2007.41
Rights
This image is posted publicly for non-profit educational uses, excluding printed publication. Other uses are not permitted.