The Spider Monster Creating Monsters in the Mansion of Minamoto no Yorimitsu
Woodblock Print
1843 (made)
1843 (made)
| Artist/Maker | |
| Place of origin |
Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) was a master of the triptych format and a highly accomplished exponent of the musha-e or 'warrior print' genre. In this triptych he deals with a legend about Minamoto no Yorimitsu that was adopted by the Noh theatre. Yorimitsu is attacked by a spider monster when he is ill in bed, but slays it with the help of his four senior retainers. When the print was published, a rumour circulated that it was meant to satirize the backward-looking Tempo Reforms promoted by the government at the time. Neither the artist nor the publisher were punished, however.
Object details
| Category | |
| Object type | |
| Title | The Spider Monster Creating Monsters in the Mansion of Minamoto no Yorimitsu (assigned by artist) |
| Materials and techniques | Woodblock print on paper |
| Brief description | Japanese print: Utagawa Kuniyoshi: 'The Spider Monster Creating Monsters in the Mansion of Minamoto no Yorimitsu'; triptych; 1843 |
| Physical description | This work deals with a legend about Minamoto no Yorimitsu that was adopted by the Noh theatre. Yorimitsu is attacked by a spider monster when he is ill in bed, but slays it with the help of his four senior samurai. Triptych: three oban-size sheets. Signature: Ichiyusai Kuniyoshi ga. Publisher: Ibaya Senzaburo |
| Dimensions |
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| Style | |
| Object history | Purchased from S. M. Franck & Co., accessioned in 1886. This acquisition information reflects that found in the Asia Department registers, as part of a 2022 provenance research project. |
| Summary | Kuniyoshi (1798-1861) was a master of the triptych format and a highly accomplished exponent of the musha-e or 'warrior print' genre. In this triptych he deals with a legend about Minamoto no Yorimitsu that was adopted by the Noh theatre. Yorimitsu is attacked by a spider monster when he is ill in bed, but slays it with the help of his four senior retainers. When the print was published, a rumour circulated that it was meant to satirize the backward-looking Tempo Reforms promoted by the government at the time. Neither the artist nor the publisher were punished, however. |
| Collection | |
| Accession number | E.10535-1886 |
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| Record created | December 8, 2002 |
| Record URL |
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