Minamoto Yorimitsu and His Retainers Defeat the Earth Spider c. 1804 - 1818

Curator: This is a woodblock print called "Minamoto Yorimitsu and His Retainers Defeat the Earth Spider" by Utagawa Kuninaga. It’s part of the collection at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: My god! It's like a fever dream on paper. The sheer scale of that spider-demon's head looming over everything—utterly terrifying and fascinating all at once. Curator: Indeed. Kuninaga brilliantly depicts this legendary scene of Yorimitsu, a historical hero, battling a monstrous spider that had cast a debilitating illness upon him. Notice the stylized webs and the retainers poised for combat. Editor: It's more than just a battle scene, isn't it? Look at Yorimitsu, vulnerable, almost paralyzed. The spider represents a disruption of order, a hidden sickness. Curator: Precisely. The print also speaks to the Edo period's fascination with folklore and the incorporation of the supernatural into the lives of even the most powerful figures. It also shows the reliance on retainers. Editor: A reminder that even heroes need help fighting their demons, literal or otherwise. What a fantastically bizarre and intriguing piece.