{"product_id":"hokusai-shunga","title":"Hokusai. Shunga — Japanese Erotic Woodblock Art","description":"\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eKatsushika Hokusai is celebrated for his extraordinary landscapes, expressive drawings, and iconic woodblock prints. Yet another side of his artistic career reveals an equally inventive imagination. \u003cem\u003eHokusai. Shunga\u003c\/em\u003e brings together the Japanese master's erotic artwork, offering a remarkable look at a tradition where intimacy, humour, and artistic craftsmanship came together.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eKnown as \u003cem\u003eshunga\u003c\/em\u003e, meaning \"spring pictures,\" erotic art occupied a distinctive place in Japan's Edo-period visual culture. These works portrayed human relationships and sexuality with an openness that could be playful, tender, or deliberately provocative. For Hokusai (1760–1849), the genre became another opportunity to explore expressive figures, elaborate compositions, and the possibilities of woodblock printing.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThis extensive retrospective presents \u003cstrong\u003eeight complete books and print sets created between 1786 and 1823\u003c\/strong\u003e, including accompanying narratives, many written by Hokusai himself. Together, they reveal the artist's distinctive approach to storytelling, where images and words combine to explore desire, relationships, and everyday human behaviour.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eA lesser-known side of Hokusai\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eAlthough best known today for \u003cem\u003eThe Great Wave off Kanagawa\u003c\/em\u003e, Hokusai worked across an extraordinary range of subjects throughout his long career. His shunga demonstrates the same curiosity and technical skill found in his celebrated landscapes and drawings, but directed towards a more intimate world.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eThe works are notable for their expressive figures, intricate textile patterns, unexpected humour, and imaginative compositions. Hokusai paid extraordinary attention to clothing, colour, gesture, and the smallest decorative details, creating scenes that are as fascinating for their artistic execution as for their subject matter.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eTechnical developments in Japanese woodblock printing allowed artists to achieve increasingly rich colours and sophisticated details. These qualities are particularly evident in Hokusai's treatment of fabrics, interiors, and the carefully arranged figures that populate his compositions.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eShunga and Edo-period Japanese culture\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eShunga flourished during Japan's Edo period (1603–1868), despite periods of official censorship. Produced by many respected artists, these works circulated as illustrated books and individual prints, reflecting contemporary attitudes towards sexuality, pleasure, and human relationships.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eBeyond their erotic content, they offer a revealing perspective on Japanese social customs, artistic traditions, and the everyday lives of people during this period.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eHokusai. Shunga\u003c\/em\u003e places these works within their historical context through an extensive introduction and explanatory essays, helping readers understand both the cultural significance of the genre and Hokusai's individual contribution to it.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eEight complete works in a beautifully produced edition\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eOne of the book's most compelling qualities is the reproduction of the original artwork. Newly photographed from rare surviving works, the images reveal the extraordinary detail of Hokusai's linework, colour, and printing techniques.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eRather than presenting isolated examples, this collection brings together complete books and print sets, allowing readers to experience their visual narratives as originally conceived.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003ePresented across \u003cstrong\u003e480 pages\u003c\/strong\u003e in a large-format hardcover with a protective slipcase, this substantial edition offers an exceptional opportunity to explore an important part of Hokusai's artistic legacy.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eFor anyone interested in Japanese art, ukiyo-e, printmaking, or the history of erotic imagery, \u003cem\u003eHokusai. Shunga\u003c\/em\u003e reveals a remarkable chapter in the work of one of Japan's most influential artists.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\n\u003ch3\u003eBook details\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTitle:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hokusai. Shunga\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Katsushika Hokusai\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/strong\u003e Andreas Marks\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBinding:\u003c\/strong\u003e Hardcover in slipcase\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/strong\u003e English \/ French \/ German\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePages:\u003c\/strong\u003e 480\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eContents:\u003c\/strong\u003e Eight complete books and print sets from 1786–1823\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSize (H × W × T):\u003c\/strong\u003e 304 × 243 × 60 mm (11.97 × 9.57 × 2.36 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n  \u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eWeight:\u003c\/strong\u003e 3.30 kg\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n","brand":"Kintaro Publishing","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":59731961020764,"sku":"BVD-042","price":100.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0168\/9010\/1814\/files\/Hokusai.Shunga_1.jpg?v=1793880242","url":"https:\/\/kintaro-publishing.com\/de-de\/products\/hokusai-shunga","provider":"Kintaro Publishing","version":"1.0","type":"link"}