A collection of Japanese eroticism by Ukiyo-e artists. A new volume in
the Traditional Patterns series, this book features Shunga, a type of
Ukiyo-e that is made using the finest Japanese woodblock print
techniques and portrays the erotic expressions of men and women; and the
pleasure, the pain, and the beauty of the human body. This Japanese
erotic art was made by all Ukiyo-e artists and was usually more
profitable than "normal" art during the Edo period. It is believed that
Shunga, literally "springtime picture," originated from Chinese medical
books. It was not only intended to provide the fun that comes from
viewing erotic images, but also the book could be held as a charm
against evil. Shunga was also used as textbooks for the sexual education
of young men and women. Because there were fewer restrictions on
Shunga, ukiyo-e artists used a variety of colors usually not seen in
usual woodblock prints. Only the best techniques of Ukiyo-e are found in
Shunga. This glorious volume features works from the Edo period to the
present. Including works by Ukiyo-e artists such as Hishikawa Moronobu,
Kitagawa Utamaro, Utagawa Kunisada, Katsushika Hokusai, this Japanese
"kama sutra" manages to be erotic, artistic, and fun all at the same
time.