Beauty Doing Her Makeup, Watched By Demon: Kuchi-e Print from the Novel: Beauty in a Home Village (Kyori no Bijin)

A woman admires her reflection in a hand mirror while elegantly arranging her hair. On the vanity before her lies a makeup container and a small jar of brushes. She’s wearing a striking plum-colored kimono adorned with bold floral patterns and cinched with a contrasting blue sash. However, the scene has a darker side: to her left, a red, horned demon leans over what seems to be the creased edge of a wall. The red demon observes the woman with keen interest, resting his chin thoughtfully on his hand. Above him, another blue demon gazes off into the distance.

Could the peeling wall symbolize the thin layer between our world and the world of malevolent supernatural forces? Why do you think the demons are watching her?