9 Attractive Taisho Era Shunga Paintings That Will Surprise You
22 april 2019 
6 min. read

9 Attractive Taisho Era Shunga Paintings That Will Surprise You

Works from shunga’s final days, the Meiji and Taisho eras, can be mainly divided in three categories. The first are the close imitations of the classical Edo designs. Secondly, the prints and paintings that were produced for the internal market depicting foreign customs and products. The third category were the shunga pieces that were created for Japanese soldiers particpating in the Sino-Japanese war, to increase their morale and show their dominance.

Taisho Era

The nice set of nine original Japanese erotic shunga paintings featured below is more of a combination between the first and second category and was produced during the Taisho era (1912-1926). They are painted on silk laid to boards and are mounted in a book in the oban format (14.5″ x 10.5″).

Purple Cap

The paintings (originally consisting of twelve) portray realistic renderings with the use of color pigments that are so characteristical of the Taisho era. The images below start off with a wakashu kabuki (recognizable by their purple cap) actor penetrating his secret sweetheart from the rear.

Threatening

In the following tableau we are witnessing the “indispensable” rape scene with a threatening intruder holding a wakizashi sword, who makes unwanted advances to a desperate young woman. The wakizashi, if worn together with the katana, was a clear indication that the wearer was a samurai or swordsman.

Nipple Sucking

The remaining pieces all feature the usual topics such as nipple sucking and love-making while drinking tea or underneath a mosquito-net. The skilled (unknown) artist paid a lot of attention to the details in the surroundings of the couples and to the typical hairstyles of that time.

Taisho

Taisho

Taisho

Taisho

Taisho

Taisho

Taisho

Taisho

Taisho

Click HERE and check out some mysteriously sensual shadow paintings…!!

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.
Alan James
By

Alan James

on 02 May 2019

Great article, as usual, Marijn! These paintings are absolutely beautiful and the colors and detail are AMAZING.

Marijn
By

Marijn

on 03 May 2019

Thanks a lot Alan! I agree, the artist has a unique distinguishing style!

Place comment

Secrets revealed of an erotic art genius Find out in our free E-Book