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.

Comments - The print includes Koryusai's well-known Maneemon figure. While Harunobu introduced the Maneemon figure in Furyu enshoku Maneemon, or 'Elegant horny Maneemon', c. 1768-1770, Koryusai continued Maneemon's adventures in Meoto Maneenon or 'Husband and wife Maneemon', c. 1770-1771.
Here, Maneemon peers on the embraces of a male and female lover. As the female lover straddles the male lover, their intense ardor distracts them from the Maneemon's gaze.
The print follows Koryusai's well-known compositional format of positioning the lovers between pairs of parallel diagonal lines. These lines are at the screens, floorboards, and the edges of the alcove. A terrific example of Koryusai's work and an excellent chance to own an early shunga masterwork - bid now!

Artist - Koryusai (1735 - 1790)

Image Size - 7 1/4" x 10"

Condition - This print with nice detail as shown. Toning, soiling at edges. Binding holes, repaired. A few spots. Please see photos for details.