The Mottled Cat
班猫
Takeuchi Seiho · 1924 (Taisho 13) · Other
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The Mottled Cat, shown by Takeuchi Seiho in 1924, is a minutely painted cat and an Important Cultural Property. Seiho brought home to Kyoto a cat he had seen in Numazu and studied it before finishing the work, which is held by the Yamatane Museum of Art in Tokyo.
- Artist
- Takeuchi Seiho
- Date
- 1924 (Taisho 13)
- Medium / format
- Other
About this work
The Mottled Cat (Hanbyo) was painted in 1924 (Taisho 13) by Takeuchi Seiho, a leading Nihonga painter of the Kyoto art world. According to the Yamatane Museum of Art's record, it is framed, in color on silk, measures 81.9 cm high by 101.6 cm wide, and is designated an Important Cultural Property.
The museum explains that the model was the pet cat of a neighborhood greengrocer's wife, whom Seiho met while staying in Numazu. The cat reminded him of a cat painted by the Chinese emperor Huizong, and he negotiated to take it, brought it back to Kyoto, and is said to have finished the work after observing it carefully as it roamed freely in his studio.
The picture shows a mottled cat curled up with its head lowered against a pale yellow ground. The title uses the character 班, following Seiho's own writing on the storage box. Today the character 斑 is normally used for "mottled," but because 班 can carry the same meaning, the museum follows the box inscription.
Where can I see it?
Exhibitions change over time. Check each museum's exhibition information before you visit.
Museums that hold this work
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Frequently asked questions
- Who painted The Mottled Cat, and when?
- The Mottled Cat is by Takeuchi Seiho, made in 1924 (Taisho 13). Medium: Other.
- Where can I see The Mottled Cat?
- It is held by Yamatane Museum of Art. Exhibitions change, so check each museum's information before you visit.
Sources and references
- Yamatane Museum of Art (in Japanese) (opens in a new tab) (checked 2026-11-06)
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