Evgenii Rachev, from The Mitten, 1950

Evgenii Rachev, from The Mitten, 1950

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Chihiro Art Museum Collection: Picture Books of Mice and Hedgehogs

What is your impression of mice? They can be found the world over and have lived in the vicinity of humans since ancient times. Though scorned by many for stealing food and chewing on valuable property, they are adored by others as cute and friendly pets. Based on this relationship with humans, mice assume various forms in stories, from villains to messengers of the gods. In this exhibit we focus on mice, which represent the zodiac sign for the year 2020, along with hedgehogs, exploring how artists depict them in picture books.