Shunga

Japanese Erotic Prints 1780-1900

During the Edo period, nearly all of the the woodblock print artists working in the ukiyo-e style supplemented their income by producing a large number of erotic prints. Known as Shunga (Spring Pictures in English), these prints were most often published in the form of albums, known as enpon. Although shunga prints are notable for their frank and graphic depictions of sexuality, they are equally notable for their high quality of composition and craftsmanship, placing them among the most prized subjects from the Edo and Meiji periods. Shunga continued to be a popular art form until it was largely supplanted by erotic photography in the late 19th century.

• Related Japanese Links: Yozo Hamaguchi, Mizuno Hidekata, Imao Keinen, Tsuchiya Kogyo, Edo Period, Meiji Period, Shin Hanga, Sosaku Hanga