12 Courtesans in the Role of Acrobatic Firemen by Kuniyoshi
26 maart 2021 
4 min. read

12 Courtesans in the Role of Acrobatic Firemen by Kuniyoshi

The following set of erotic prints is designed by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) and is issued c.1830-35. It consists of twelve koban prints with twelve half-naked women performing acrobatics on a ladder. Placed in groups of six, the twelve numbered sheets are a parody of similar depictions of firefighters performing daredevil stunts.

Water Vessel

The inscriptions on the buckets on the second bottom print on the left refer to Nakanocho Street in the Yoshiwara district – the prostitution district of Edo. Below it is depicted the great water vessel that stood at the gate of the Yoshiwara; the gate is on the right. The twelve pictures may form a calendar with references to the short and long months.

firemen shunga Kuniyoshi

Series of twelve koban-sized shunga with prostitutes in the role of acrobatic firefighters‘ (c.1830-35) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi (1797-1861) (Source: Rijksmuseum)

https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/nl/mijn/verzamelingen/3222–marije-jansen/shunga/objecten#/RP-P-2009-981-12,4

https://blog.japanesegallery.com/  (Info brandweerlieden Japan 19de eeuw – 2de artikel op deze pag.)

erotic female acrobats

Upper part

acrobats kuniyoshi

Middle part

firemen ukiyo-e Kuniyoshi

Below part

Click HERE for more comical sensuality by Kuniyoshi….!!

Source: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam

Let us know what you think about Kuniyoshi’s sensual humor in the comment box below….!!

About the author
Marijn is the founder of shungagallery.com. With more than 20 years of experience within the sensual and erotic art of shunga he is an authority in the genre. During this time he served many customers with complementing their art collection.
Sebastien B
By

Sebastien B

on 05 Apr 2021

‘Never seen before!’

Marijn
By

Marijn

on 05 Apr 2021

Thanks Sebastien, much more coming up!

Shokoshu
By

Shokoshu

on 11 Apr 2021

Epic find. A perfect match for Cybersp0nge's "Bukkake Firefighters". :-)

Marijn
By

Marijn

on 11 Apr 2021

Thanks Shokoshu, I'm pleased you like it!

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