Shunga means "Spring Pictures", and was produced in the Japanese Edo period (1600 to 1900). Shunga celebrates all forms of sexual pleasure in brilliantly illuminated paintings, prints and books. Shunga was (mostly) the work of the artists of the ukiyo-e ("floating world"), and appealed to both men and women for almost 300 years. The masters of the form are artists such as Utamaro, Hokusai, and Kunisada.
The erotic images are tender, passionate, frequently humourous and capture the Japanese love of love beautifully .
Shunga art was banned in Japan for much of the 20th century, but these beautifully detailed erotic works inspired Western artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec, Beardsley, Rodin and Picasso.
Within Japan, Shunga continues to influence modern culture and many art forms, including Manga, anime and Japanese tattoo art. It is a unique and beautiful art form within Japanese culture.
The erotic images are tender, passionate, frequently humourous and capture the Japanese love of love beautifully .
Shunga art was banned in Japan for much of the 20th century, but these beautifully detailed erotic works inspired Western artists such as Toulouse-Lautrec, Beardsley, Rodin and Picasso.
Within Japan, Shunga continues to influence modern culture and many art forms, including Manga, anime and Japanese tattoo art. It is a unique and beautiful art form within Japanese culture.