Yoshitoshi -- "Preparing to Kill the Earth Spider"

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Title "Preparing to Kill the Earth Spider" ("Minamoto no Yorimitsu Tsuchigumo O-kiru Zu")
Series "New Forms of Thirty-Six Ghosts" ("Shinkei Sanjurokkassen")
Date 1892 (1902, Second (and only later) Edition)
Publisher Daikoku-ya Heikichi (Tokyo, 1818-1923)
Carver Chokuzan
Image Size 8 7/8 x 13 1/8
Impression Excellent. Skillful "bokashi" shading to cartouche, lantern, and face; silver metallic "spider web" background; extensive "gauffrage" pattern to kimono; nicely visible woodgrain to grey background; burnishing to black swordcase, lantern, and fallen furniture; very crisp, highly detailed carving; two-color cartouche.
Condition Excellent. Excellent colors. Retains original album backing; wide margins. (No flaws noted.)
Reference/Illus Stevenson's "Yoshitoshi's Thirty-Six Ghosts" pl #32, pg 82; "The Bizzarre Imagery of Yoshitoshi," pl #47, pg 86; Ronin Gallery pl #32, pg 8.
Comments Hauntingly beautiful. Delirious with fever, Raiko is awakened by the monsterous "Earth Spider" disguised as a seven foot tall priest.
Item # CG-863
Price $975