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 - Taking Handscroll for the Sleeve (Sode no maki) by Torii Kiyonaga as an inspiration, these rare prints show human intimacy among all walks and ages of life: a young couple beginning their romance, a middle-aged character resting after intercourse, a woodcutter with his lover who rests her head under his wood bundle, and so on. Kiyonaga’s original elongated format prints from the Edo era, originally on a continuous scroll, are considered to be among the most interesting and unique designs in the woodblock subcategory of shunga. As with many of the Edo era shunga masterworks the series was reinterpreted in the Meiji era by a number of artists including the present group. These smaller format pieces were termed "sleeve treasures" (shuchin) for their ease of sliding into the hanging sleeve of a kimono or inside the breast.

We are excited to have come by this group and happy to offer these rare and delicate examples of shunga. Kiyonaga’s original Edo handscroll prints are exceedingly rare. These Meiji prints are a nice opportunity to collect the handscroll format. Bid today!

Artist - Meiji era artist (unsigned)

Image Size - 3 7/8" x 13 1/8" + margins as shown

Condition - Printed on a beautiful, thin rice paper with a bit of a translucent quality. Light wear at edges, some creasing. A few faint spots. Please see photos for details.