The Criterion Collection: Onibaba (Blu-Ray Edition) Cover (2021)

I took a course in Japanese Theatre at Sophia University back in 1996. So I have been searching for Noh related art ever since, and I came across this haunting cover art by Edward Kinsella. It depicts the mother wearing a Noh Hannya (demon) mask, which is fitting because traditionally in Noh, the jealous demons are female. This movie was filmed in 1964 by Kaneto Shindo.

As a side story, I almost was not able to purchase this cover. Back in October I had inquired about this piece but it was already spoken for by another buyer. Oddly, the transaction was never completed, and eight months later, it was sold to another buyer. But the second buyer’s payment malfunctioned, and so it then came to me. Edward was kind enough to sell to me this piece along with the interior page.

This art was displayed at the Society of Illustrators in 2022.