The Tale of Shiranui (Shiranui Monogatari)
Utagawa Yoshitora
1864
Depicting the Kabuki theatrical play “The tale of Shiranui” (Shiranui Monogatari). The prints were used as promotional material for both the play and the actors, being sold to fans and displayed in public places like posters. The story was originally an epic illustrated gôkan comic book published between 1849 and 1855 and tells the story of the young Princess Wakana whose family (The Ôtomo clan) are wiped out in a feud with another clan. She is rescued by a kindly spider and given the gift of spider magic. The plot tells of her vendetta to take revenge upon the Kikuchi family who was the cause of her downfall.
Yoshitora pictures the scene where Wakana uses the magic of the spider scroll to fight three members of the Kikuchi clan.
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