Kitagawa Utamaro   喜多川 歌麿    ( 1753 ~ 1806 )

Shunga p3740 ~ p3748.

Utamaro’s Ehon takara gura.

In Ehon takara gura Utamaro has left the brothels of the Yoshiwara in Edo as a subject and focuses more on the sexual
acts withinthe private setting. He displays the sexual activities with a lot of attention to the subtle interactions between
the protagonists.

The series provide many examples of Utamaro’s inventiveness, and of the variety of scenes shown in the illustrated books.
Even in those illustrations which are closest in design to the album of prints, the expression is somehow softer and more
relaxed. There is less frenzy. 

The series Ehon takara gura is described in the books Utamaro, Kitagawa: Schatzkammer der Liebe. Ehon takara gura  
by Franz Winzinger and The Art of Love in Japan by Tom and Mary Ann Evans.

Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川 歌麿 ( 1753~1806 ). Date: 1805.
Size: 10 1/3” x 8 1/6” inches. Fine impression, very fresh color and near fine condition. 
Series: Ehon takara gura (Treasure Room of Love).

Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川 歌麿 ( 1753~1806 ). Date: 1800.
Size: 10 1/3” x 8 1/6” inches. Fine impression, very fresh color and near fine condition. 
Series: Ehon takara gura (Treasure Room of Love).

Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川 歌麿 ( 1753~1806 ). Date: 1800.
Size: 10 1/3” x 8 1/6” inches. Fine impression, very fresh color and near fine condition. 
Series: Ehon takara gura (Treasure Room of Love).

In a wonderful state with only minor marks and flaws and with very fresh colors (the fugitive blue still clearly visible!).

“A male voyeur is peeking through a small hole in a fench while masturbating ferociously. He is watching at a peeing lady sitting near a stream. This particular theme has influenced great artists such as Kunisada and Kuniyoshi.”

Reference: p.189 (Fig.36) in Japanese Erotic Art: The Hidden World of Shunga by Ofer Shagan.

Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川 歌麿 ( 1753~1806 ). Date: 1800.
Size: 10 1/3” x 8 1/6” inches. Fine impression, very fresh color and near fine condition. 
Series: Ehon takara gura (Treasure Room of Love).

In a wonderful state with only minor marks and flaws and with very fresh colors.

“A lovely portrayal of a married couple outside standing in front of a bamboo fenching. 
The man standing behind his wife has moved his arm between her legs to stimulate her private parts.”

Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川 歌麿 ( 1753~1806 ). Date: 1800.
Size: 10 1/3” x 8 1/6” inches. Fine impression, very fresh color and near fine condition. 
Series: Ehon takara gura (Treasure Room of Love).

In a wonderful state with only minor marks and flaws and with very fresh colors.

“A tender erotic encounter between a married couple. The man is clearly enjoying the excitement of his wife who is still wearing her tabi (toed socks). A tantalising detail is the one breast hanging out of her kimono.”

Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川 歌麿 ( 1753~1806 ). Date: 1800.
Size: 10 1/3” x 8 1/6” inches. Fine impression, very fresh color and near fine condition. 
Series: Ehon takara gura (Treasure Room of Love).

In a wonderful state with only minor marks and flaws and with very fresh colors.

“Striking in this great image is that all participants are naked. Note the different hairstyles of the women. 
Utamaro made a similar design for the Ehon futa bashira (Two Pillars, Many Wives – A Picture-book).”

Very rare !

Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川 歌麿 ( 1753~1806 ). Date: 1800.
Size: 10 1/3” x 8 1/6” inches. Fine impression, very fresh color and near fine condition. 
Series: Ehon takara gura (Treasure Room of Love).

In a wonderful state with only minor marks and flaws and with very fresh colors (the fugitive blue still clearly visible!).

“A crude, hirsute and ugly man roughly interrupts the romantic encounter of a couple. He is holding his knee on his neck while having a tight grip on his tail. The woman is trying to flee but the hairy assailant is holding on to the black belt of her kimono. A bath is visible in the background. Kunisada was heavily influenced by this design for his series The Eight Dog Heroes of the Satomi Clan (also available in our collection!).”

Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川 歌麿 ( 1753~1806 ). Date: 1800.
Size: 10 1/3” x 8 1/6” inches. Fine impression, very fresh color and near fine condition. 
Series: Ehon takara gura (Treasure Room of Love).

In a wonderful state with only minor marks and flaws and with very fresh colors (the fugitive blue still clearly visible!).

“A typical Utamaro-esque composition, with the semi-recumbent couple almost alligned with the diagonal lines of the composition that are set up by the blue sling doors in the background. Both lovers have ther eyes closed in pure ecstacy while the man is holding on the legs of his lover who is lying in a fetal position.”

“...now the enclosing limbs convey a feeling of safety and protection which is reinforced by the setting of the figures in a very real and ordinary room.” (Tom Evans on this design in Shunga, the Art of Love in Japan).

Reference: p.234 (Fig.6,72) in Shunga, the Art of Love in Japan by Tom and Mary Ann Evans.

Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川 歌麿 ( 1753~1806 ). Date: 1800.
Size: 5 3/4” x 8 1/4” inches. Fine impression, very fresh color and near fine condition. 
Series: Ehon takara gura (Treasure Room of Love).

In a wonderful state with only minor soiling, very tiny pinholes, marks and flaws and with very fresh colors.

“A lovely tranguil portrayal of the branch of a pine tree.”