Japanese Shunga Surimono Depicting the Collection of Vaginal Fluid

In this probably unique and distinguishing Japanese shunga surimono (commissioned print) shunga design by Yanagawa shunga design by Yanagawa shunga design by Yanagawa shunga design by Yanagawa shunga design by Yanagawa shunga design by Yanagawa shunga design by Yanagawa shunga design by Yanagawa shunga design by Yanagawa shunga design by Yanagawa shunga design by Yanagawa shunga design by Yanagawa shunga design by Yanagawa Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang Utamaro and Eiri are the ones depicted below. Let’s take a closer at these extraordinary examples of rape art… Plate 9 from.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/000000000-12.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/rape-art/">rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang Utamaro and Eiri are the ones depicted below. Let’s take a closer at these extraordinary examples of rape art… Plate 9 from.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/000000000-12.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/rape-art/">rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang Utamaro and Eiri are the ones depicted below. Let’s take a closer at these extraordinary examples of rape art… Plate 9 from.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/000000000-12.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/rape-art/">rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang Utamaro and Eiri are the ones depicted below. Let’s take a closer at these extraordinary examples of rape art… Plate 9 from.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/000000000-12.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/rape-art/">rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang Utamaro and Eiri are the ones depicted below. Let’s take a closer at these extraordinary examples of rape art… Plate 9 from.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/000000000-12.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/rape-art/">rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang Utamaro and Eiri are the ones depicted below. Let’s take a closer at these extraordinary examples of rape art… Plate 9 from.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/000000000-12.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/rape-art/">rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang Utamaro and Eiri are the ones depicted below. Let’s take a closer at these extraordinary examples of rape art… Plate 9 from.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/000000000-12.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/rape-art/">rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang Utamaro and Eiri are the ones depicted below. Let’s take a closer at these extraordinary examples of rape art… Plate 9 from.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/000000000-12.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/rape-art/">rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang Utamaro and Eiri are the ones depicted below. Let’s take a closer at these extraordinary examples of rape art… Plate 9 from.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/000000000-12.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/rape-art/">rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang Utamaro and Eiri are the ones depicted below. Let’s take a closer at these extraordinary examples of rape art… Plate 9 from.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/000000000-12.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/rape-art/">rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang Utamaro and Eiri are the ones depicted below. Let’s take a closer at these extraordinary examples of rape art… Plate 9 from.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/000000000-12.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/rape-art/">rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu (1787-1833) is the 10th plate from his masterpiece ‘ Willow Storm ‘ published in the late 1820s. Palanquin Bearers It exhibits a gang Utamaro and Eiri are the ones depicted below. Let’s take a closer at these extraordinary examples of rape art… Plate 9 from.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/000000000-12.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/rape-art/">rape scene.." data-featured-image="https://media-01.imu.nl/storage/shungagallery.com/2236/wp/Yokohama-e-Train899.jpg" class="smart-content-link sc-link" href="https://shungagallery.com/shigenobu/">Shigenobu portrays his sensual participants, a European couple, as godlike figures (the female is stunningly beautiful) set in a celestial setting.

Vaginal Fluids

Underneath the genitals of the woman vaginal fluids are collected on a plate. The inevitable incense burner(*) on a small table in the background.

Fig.1. Surimono featuring a ‘Western Couple‘ (c.1830) by Yanagawa Shigenobu (1787-1833)

This specific print is depicted in the book ‘Strangers in Paradise‘ by Dr.Richard Lane. On p.122 (see Fig.2.) it is juxtaposed against a lithograph by Picasso (dated 1963), which is inspired on Shigenobu.

Fig.2. (p.122 ‘Strangers in Paradise‘ by Dr.Richard Lane)

Fig.3. (p.71 in ‘Strangers in Paradise‘ by Dr.Richard Lane)

Fig.4. ‘Dutchman with Nagasaki geisha‘ (c.1823) attributed to Yanagawa Shigenobu

Fig.5. Oban-sized print ‘Odd foreigner making love to a Japanese female seamstress‘ (c. 1820) from the album ‘Koi no harizuki‘ by Hokusai school

Fig.6. ‘Intercourse close-up designs of a foreign couple (l) and foreign couple tongue-kissing (r)‘ (c.1783) from the series ‘Kabumakura‘ by a pupil of the Utamaro school

Fig.7. ‘Dutch intimate couple‘ (c.1820s) from the series  ‘Kaidan hyakubobo-gatari‘ by Keisai Eisen

Fig.8. Egoyomi featuring ‘Dutchman and a Japanese courtesan on a sail boat (probably a VOC ship)‘ (c.1820) attributed to Keisai Eisen (1790-1848)

Click HERE for another Japanese shunga design by Shigenobu on a similar subject with an outrageous Chinese couple!

Click HERE for other shunga designs that inspired Picasso!

*Incense burners were frequently added when foreign couples were depicted. In Japanese/Nagasaki society it was whispered that these exotic foreigners were rather “smelly”.

What is your favorite subject in shunga (such as foreigners, gay (male-male), lesbian, tattoo, bathhouse…etc.)? Leave your reaction in the comment box below…!!