Shutendoji in Oeyama Palace 1765

Komatsuya Hyakki's woodblock print depicts Shutendoji, a mountain demon, in his palace on Mount Oe. Shutendoji is surrounded by women, emphasizing his deceptive nature and the dangers of succumbing to earthly pleasures. Notice the windows in the image, one overlooking a wintery landscape, the other turbulent waters. Throughout art history, windows are often used as symbols of transition and liminal space. Recall the Renaissance use of windows, opening up on ideal landscapes. Here we have a twisted version of the motif: the demon's space of comfort set against scenes of desolation. There's an enduring human fascination with the duality of beauty and decay. Here, the artist captures a moment of serene corruption. It is a motif that returns throughout history, proving that in the end, what terrifies us is what beguiles us.