Minamoto no Yorimitsu and His Retainers Defeat the Earth Spider c. 1804 - 1818

Curator: This is a fascinating vertical triptych by Utagawa Kuninaga, titled "Minamoto no Yorimitsu and His Retainers Defeat the Earth Spider." Editor: Wow, that's… intense! It's like a kabuki drama frozen in time—the colors are so vibrant, and the figures are caught mid-leap, mid-scream. Curator: Absolutely. This piece captures a moment from a popular legend, reflecting the era's fascination with folklore and heroic tales. Note how the composition uses three panels to build the narrative tension. Editor: That spider is nightmare fuel! But I'm drawn to the patterned robes and the chaotic energy. It's like Kuninaga is saying, "Even heroes have their monster under the bed." Curator: The print would have been widely circulated, reinforcing social values around bravery and loyalty, while also tapping into anxieties about the supernatural. Editor: It definitely makes you think about the stories we tell ourselves, doesn't it? About who we are, and what we're fighting against. Curator: Indeed, and it reminds us of the power of art to shape those narratives. Editor: So true. It’s always the quiet stories with giant spiders lurking in the shadows that make the deepest impression.