During the westernization of Japan, artists started to promote the modernization in their so-called “Enlightment” prints. The Japanese built their first railroad in 1872 and quickly became a symbol of innovation. Therefore there arose a large demand for “train prints”.
Trains In Shunga
Although there was a large demand you very scarcely find shunga designs including trains. This was also because shunga was at a decline at that time. Below you can find three rare examples:
´Intimate couple at a railway crossing´ (c.1900) attributed to Terazaki Kogyo (1869-1927)
Station Master
A comical scene featuring a couple making love on a railroad. The ecstatic woman is holding a railway flag. To enhance the tension the artist added an arriving train in the distance. The male is probably the station master.
´Intimate couple in a train compartment´ (c.1900) attributed to Ikeda Terukata (1883-1921)
Dark Purple
In a stylish train compartment a married couple involved in the “preliminary game” before intercourse. They are both dressed in the latest fashion. The dark purple pigment was a popular color detail among Meiji artists.
‘Intimate couple in the hallway of a train station with the insert depicting a riding train‘ (c.1900) attrib. to Tomioka Eisen
Close-up
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