Based on the Noh play by the same name, Tsuchigumo, or “earth spider,” is a Kabuki play that recounts the story of a failed attack on Lord Minamoto no Yorimitsu by a spider spirit. This print depicts Onoe Kikugorō VII, considered one of the most handsome Kabuki actors, as the determined, vengeful spirit. The grayish-pink face and long, black hair highlight the antagonistic nature of the figure. The artist achieved the spirit’s eerie gaze by painting the eyes with a white pigment, except for the black pupils that gaze upward. The mica-infused background gives off a sinister sheen, suggesting the light that would reflect off the evil spirit’s body in semidarkness. The patterns on the face recall arachnid anatomy.