Shunga, Sex and Pleasure in Japanese Art

Shunga is a Japanese Term for Erotic Art, and it’s literal translation is “Pictures of Spring”, being Spring an euphenism for Sex. Very appropriate, now that is the end of Winter, and Spring is around the corner. Shunga is part of the ukiyo-e genre of woodblock prints and paintings common in the late 17th century.

The Britsh Museum had a beautiful exhibit, “Shunga, Sex and Pleasure in Japanese Art“, unfortunately it closed in January.

https://i0.wp.com/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5f/Miyagawa_Issho_hand_scroll.jpg

https://i0.wp.com/upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6b/Kitagawa_Utamaro_-_BATHING_IN_COLD_WATER_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg

File:Suzuki Harunobu - Sexual Misconduct, From the book Fashionable, Lusty Mane’emon 1770.jpg

 

 

Author: Ana Daza

Graphic Artist

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