November 2013 Archives

Dear Customers and friends,

Good afternoon from Akiko Yamada of Shukado.

Recently our new arrivals could be sold as soon as we post them on our
website. So please keep checking there otherwise you will miss a chance to
get something unique at a resonable price!

Today I will write about the exhibition has been gathering attention.
That is "Shunga: Sex and Pleasure in Japanese Art" held in the British museum.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/exhibitions/shunga.aspx
The British Museum
Shunga: Sex and Pleasure in Japanese Art
Until 5 January 2014

Shunga is erotic Japanese art painted from 1600s to 1900s.
A lot of spectator packs the exhibition every day so sometimes the entrance is gotten under control.
This exhibition has attracted not only spectator but many mass media.
Here are articles below.
http://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2013/oct/01/shunga-sex-pleasure-erotic-japanese-art

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/sex/10304672/Japanese-shunga-can-teach-the-prudish-West-a-thing-or-two-about-sex.html 

The word, Shunga might bring you the image of secret pleasure but Shunga had held several meanings in Edo period in Japan. For example, as Shunga was thought as a painting for victory, warriors brought Shunga under their armors as a charm. There was a custom exchange gift of gorgeous Shunga to celebrate New years' day among samurai warriors. Why were there custom in Edo period? 
Because shunga was thought as the symbol of life force and prosperity of offspring.
Furthermore mothers gave her daughters as sexual education when they married.
Anyway, Shunga was very popular at that time in Japan among ordinary people.
So most Ukiyoe painters produced Shunga.

This might be most popular Shunga by Hokusai.

" Kinoe no komatsu, Octopus and Ama"
http://www.aojc.co.jp/staff_blog/2013/11/post-317.html

This a hand scroll consisting of 13 prints from Kinoe no Komatsu including "Octopus and Ama".
That work will appears in our next catalog.

His paintings' characteristics are close up and onomatopoeic words.

Harunobu also made beautiful shungas.
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/A1-88-131-02/Harunobu/Shunga?
Kabuki plays repeatedly became the theme for Shunga because of its popularity.
Those are Shunga books were painted by Kunisada in a parody of Chusingura, Treasury of Loyal Retainers.
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/A1-87-241-01/Toyokuni-III-/-Kunisada/Shunga-Book--Chushingura-Vol.1
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/A1-87-241-02/Toyokuni-III-/-Kunisada/Shunga-Book--Chushingura-Vol.3


This series was in a parody of 53 station of Tokaido which started at Edo and led Kyoto having a lot of scenic places.
People enjoyed those Shunga books also as travel guide.
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/A1-87-384//Shunga-Book-(Tokaido--Vol1)
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/item/list2/A1-87-385//Shunga-Book-(Tokaido--No2)


Erotic Japanese art was heavily suppressed in Japan from the 1870s.
It has been difficult to hold exhibitions of Shunga in Japan until very recently.
And unfortunately there is no plan the same exhibition doesn't travel to Japan for now.

If you don't live in UK or don't have a chance to London, please visit to our Ukiyoe site!
http://www.japanese-finearts.com/index.php

Sincerely yours,
Akiko Yamada