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Volume 3 of Unknown Erotic (Shunga) Set (Tōsei komonchō)

Utagawa, Kuniyoshi, 1798-1861 · 10 pictures

A Japanese woodblock shunga album volume attributed to Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1798-1861), made in Edo-period Japan for private viewing rather than public sale. The four pictures show explicit sexual scenes, rendered in flat areas of colour with patterned textiles, folding screens and sliding-panel interiors. A designer might take the bold outlines, patterned kimono and fabric textures, and the compact interior compositions with their stylised screens and low furniture.

Erotic art

Thomas J. Watson Library, The Metropolitan Museum of Art · No known copyright restrictions · More from this library