East Asia, Japan, Meiji period, 1868 to 1912. A very large Shunga painting mounted on a hanging scroll and depicting an explicit sexual interlude between a samurai and a courtesan in bright color and a characteristically bold aesthetic. All is delineated in graphic fashion with pronounced genitalia characteristic of Shunga art. Shunga are Japanese paintings that depict an extensive array of sensual encounters, ranging from tender to erotic. Shunga literally means "pictures of spring" - "spring" being a common euphemism for sex. An especially uninhibited Shunga painting mounted in a hanging scroll format. Size (painted image): 18.25" L x 21.25" W (46.4 cm x 54 cm) Size (scroll): 48" L x 24.25" W (121.9 cm x 61.6 cm)

Japanese Shunga paintings were inspired by imagery found in Chinese medical manuals going back to the Muromachi era (14th to 16th centuries) as well as the paintings of Tang dynasty Chinese artist Zhou Fang who was known for depicting oversized genitalia. In Japan, the influences go back to the Heian period (794 to 1185) when sex scandals were depicted on narrative handscrolls; however, the form reached its pinnacle during the Edo period (1603 to 1867) and came to and end during the Meiji era (1868 to 1912).

Provenance: private Hawaii collection, acquired 2000 to 2010

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#177429

Vivid imagery and colors. Crease marks and wear commensurate with age. Some tears to background papers that do not impact the painted scene. Accompanied by wooden storage box.