Shunga - Shunga is a Japanese term for erotic pictures. Some scholars believe that the first shunga were inspired by Chinese medical manuals. Shunga prints grew in popularity in the early 18th century and the production of shunga peaked in the golden age of the print period in the late 19th century. Many ukiyo-e artists did shunga in addition to their normal specialties. The works sold well and, often at higher prices than the normal genre. So, artists had an incentive to delve into the realm of shunga. Often of very high quality and with great sensitivity to the subject, the best artists produced shunga of remarkable beauty. Shunga were rarely signed as collectors in the field know. Some of the noted artists in the field were Moronobu, Hokusai, Shigenobu and the great Utamaro.

Series; The Smile of a Flower (Hana no Egao) - Originally published in 1840, Kuniyoshi's series "The Smile of a Flower" (Hana no Egao) was released in 3 volumes. Kuniyoshi's illustrations portray intimate moments between lovers with both urgency and humor.

These beautifully produced reprints faithfully capture Kuniyoshi's artistry and nuance at a price that can meet any budget. Bid now!

Artist - Kuniyoshi (1797 - 1861)

Image Size - 11 1/4" x 7 3/8" + margins as shown

Condition - With excellent color and detail. Two separate panels. Stitching holes in margin at seam. Please see photos for details. Very nice overall.