SHUNGA PRINTS Utamaro, Kitagawa ( 1754

ANTIQUE ( SHUNGA ) WOODBLOCK.

Utamaro Kitagawa ( 1754 ~ 1806 )

Shunga, Japanese woodblock print, Hokusai, Kunisada, Utamaro, Kuniyoshi. Harunobu, Koryusai, Eisen.Utagawa school,Torii,Octopus.

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[...] “Utamaro depicts an interior and emotional, rather than exterior or gestural, perception of eros. Already in this “compendium of sexual fantasies and anxieties” which make up the Uta makura album, Utamaro elevates his discourse on eroticism to an expression of the turbulence of his time. His is a serene vision: in his amorous scenes, sex is not described as an enthusiastic conflict, but rather a shared relaxation, slow and complete, that originates in the imagination before reaching the senses.The contextual details of the embrace, like the expressions of the faces and the unfolding of the garments, have great importance in the shunga of Utamaro. They contribute to the pathos of the scene in that the lines of the lovers’ bodies and the fluid folds of their garment – never violent and broken as in Kunisada, or fine and jagged as in Hokusai – slowly and elegantly reveal the intimate significance of the embrace.”[...] (Marco Fagioli – Erotic Art of Japan)

If you click on the following link you can find more info on > Utamaro prints.

p4120 - €885 - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Kitagawa Utamaro – Exhausted Couple – c.1800.

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Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806). Shunga (Erotic picture).
Date: c.1800. Size: 10 1/3” x 8 1/7” inches. Series: ‘Ehon takara gura (Treasure Room of Love)’.
Fine impression, color and condition. Near flawless state!

“A couple is looking for a refreshment after a passionate bout of love-making. Utamaro’s humor can be noticed in the amusing detail of the running mouse.”

Ex-Ferdinand Bertholet collection.

p3740 ~ p3748 Contact Info >

Ehon takara gura ( Treasure Room of Love ).

Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿 c.1800.

Shunga – Utamaro – Festival Mask – Series Ehon Takara Gura - c.1800.

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p3356 - €1085 - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Shunga – Utamaro – The Laughing Drinker – Private Moment – c.1803.

Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿 c.1803.

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Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro (1754–1806). Shunga (Erotic picture).
Date: c.1803. Size: 10 2/5” x 7 4/5” inches. Fine impression, color and near fine condition.
Series:‘Ehon warai jogo (The Laughing Drinker)’. Minor marks and flaws only. Overall in a wonderful state !

“A superb Utamaro piece featuring a married couple having a private moment.”

p3355 - €985 - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Shunga – Utamaro – The Laughing Drinker – Fresly Bathed – c.1803.

Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿 c.1803.

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Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro (1754–1806). Shunga (Erotic picture).
Date: c.1803. Size: 10 1/5” x 7 4/5” inches. Fine impression, color and near fine condition.
Series:‘Ehon warai jogo (The Laughing Drinker)’. Minor marks and flaws only. Overall in a wonderful state !

“A young male is making love to his freshly bathed mistress.”

p3351 - €950 - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Shunga – Utamaro – Famous Peeking Scene – c.1800.

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Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro (1753–1806). Shunga (Erotic picture).
Date: c.1800. Size: 10 1/3” x 8 1/7” inches. Fine impression, very good color and condition.
Series:‘Ehon takara gura (Treasure Room of Love)’.
Minor wear and soiling, marks and flaws but overall in a very nice state !

“A male voyeur is watching a peeing lady who is sitting near a stream. He is peeking through a small hole in the fench while masturbating ferociously. A design that influenced artists like Kunisada and Kuniyoshi.”

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

p3337 - - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Aiban Masterpiece – Utamaro – Attack On A Shameful Girl – c.1786.

Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿 c.1786.

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Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock attributed to Kitagawa Utamaro (1754-1806). Shunga (Erotic print).
Date: c.1786.Aiban yoko-e size: 12 2/3” x 8 3/4” inches. Fine impression, very good color and near fine condition.
Full size. Very minor marks and flaws only. Very nice state overall.

“A young girl on an outing is waylaid by a robber. She hides her face in shame and in the background a man, perhaps her manservant, flees. The aiban format becomes fashionable around this time. Forrer (2004: 178) points out that the aiban format was virtually absent from Kiyonaga’s oeuvre, whereas it constituted the second most important format in the work of Utamaro. It is possible that the aiban in illustrations 32 to 34 are part of the same set, but this has yet to be confirmed (Chris Uhenbeck).”

In the past this design has been attributed to Katsukawa Shuncho (act. c.1780s-early 1800s). The Rijksmuseum Amsterdam (the most important in the Netherlands) has another impression with the robber wearing a red jacket of this design in their collection.

Reference: p.120 (Fig.32) in ‘Japanese Erotic Fantasies by Chris Uhlenbeck.

Very rare !

p3180 ~ p3195 Contact Info >

Kitagawa Utamaro ( 1753 ~ 1806 ) – Katsushika Hokusai ( 1760 ~ 1849 ).

Kitagawa Utamaro c.1802. Katsushika Hokusai ( 1760-1849 ).

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p3325 - €850 - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Shunga - Utamaro - Rape - Tattooed Assailant - Ehon Hana Fubuki - c.1802.

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Description:

Antique Japanese color woodblock Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806). Shunga (Erotic print). Date: 1802.
Hanshibon size: 11" x 9 1/3" inches. Series: 'Ehon hana fubuki (Picture-book of Flowers in Violent Bloom)'.
Author: Utamaro (text in illustrations) and Jippensha Ikku (1765-1831). Fine impression, color and very good
condition. Minor soiling only. Very fresh colors for a print of this period.

“Scary rape design that takes place between the rice straw piles. A discerning print from Utamaro’s acclaimed Hana fubuki-series.”

Reference:
Illus.44 on p.66/67 in 'The Complete Ukiyo-e Shunga (Vol.18)' by Richard Lane and Yoshikazu Hayashi.
p.284/285 (Fig.153) in the book Shunga, Japanese Erotic Art by Shirakura Yoshihiko

Among the best shunga work Utamaro created !

p3305 - €725 - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Kitagawa Utamaro – Michiyuki Koi No Futusao – Laundry Room – c.1802.

Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿 c.1802.

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Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro (1754–1806). Shunga (Erotic print). Date: c.1802.
Size: 10 2/3” x 8 2/5” inches.Fine impression, color and very good condition. Some staining, marks and flaws.
Series: ‘(Michiyuki) koi no futusao (On the Road: Love Songs for the Thick-necked Shamisen) ’.

“A couple is making love in the laundry room.”

“(Michiyuki) koi no futusao” is stylistically similar to Utamaro’s earlier (after 1801) oban series of the same subject entitled Manipulations of Love with Musical Accompaniment (Ongyoku koi no ayatsuri).
The subject of this, and the following work, is based on dramatized tales (yet based on true stories) of ´fated lovers´ who commit double ´love´ suicide. The stories evolved into a line of dramas for Bunraku and Kabuki theatre called shinju mono (double–suicide plays).

p3220 ~ p3228 Contact Info >

Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿 c.1802.

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p3080 - p3081 - p3082 --- p2988 - p2989 - p2990. Contact Info >

Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿 c.1803.

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p3130 ~ p3154 Contact Info >

Shunga - Utamaro School c.1800s.

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p2615 ~ p2623 Contact Info >

Kitagawa Utamaro 喜多川歌麿 ( 1753-1806 ).

Ehon takara gura ( Treasure Room of Love ).

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p1920 ~ p1927 - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Utamaro Kitagawa 1750 ~ 1806

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p1919 - - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Oban Shunga - Utamaro - Under The Blanket - c.1800.

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Description:
Antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806). Shunga (Erotic print).
Date: c.1800. Oban size (approx.): 15 1/5" x 10" inches. Very good impression, color and condition.
Centerfold, thin backing (out of precaution), a couple of tiny thinning spots, very minor soiling, marks and flaws.
Fresh colors for a print of this period with the fugitive blue still in tact and with nice use of gauffrage and
metallic pigment details.Full size.

A woman is holding her lover while he is penetrating her from underneath a blanket.

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Oban Shunga - Utamaro - Kissing Couple - c.1800,

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Description:
Antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806). Shunga (Erotic print).
Date: c.1800. Oban size (approx.): 14 3/4" x 10" inches. Very good impression, color and condition.
Centerfold, thin backing (out of precaution), a couple of tiny thinning spots, very minor soiling, marks and flaws.
Fresh colors for a print of this period with the fugitive blue still in tact and with nice use of gauffrage and
metallic pigment details.Virtually full size.

A married couple are kissing each other while having intercourse. Behind the woman's back lays an opened shungabook which was used as inspiration to enhance their love-play.

p1917 - €700 - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Oban Shunga - Utamaro - Tobacco Pipe - c.1800.

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A woman is disturbed by her man while she was reading a book and smoking a pipe.

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p1743 ~ p1755 Contact Info >

Kitagawa Utamaro ( 1753~1806 )

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p1478 - - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Kitagawa Utamaro - c.1800. Mosquito Net. Small Infants - Breastfeeding.

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Description:
Original antique Japanese color woodblock by Kitagawa Utamaro (1753-1806). Shunga. Date: c.1800.
Size: 8 3/4" x 10 2/3" inches. Fine impression, color and very good condition.
Backing, very minor soiling, 3 very small professionally repaired wormholes (mainly in the border!).
Very minor marks and flaws.

A lovely family scene depicted from behind a mosquito-net.
The husband is penetrating his wife while she's breastfeeding their youngest child.
The older boy is whining and has seperated himself from his parents.
Look for the newborn's little hand pinching in his mother's chest !

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Rare Utamaro - Festival Mask Ehon Takara Gura - c.1805.

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Description:
Antique original Japanese color woodblock Kitagawa Utamaro (1750-1806). Shunga (Erotic picture). Date: c.1805.
Series: 'Ehon takara gura'. Size: 10 1/2" x 8 1/6" inches. Fine impression, color and very good condition. Full size.
A very tiny hole (virtually untracable!) in the left panel. Very minor soiling, marks and flaws.

Two passionate lovers making love under a green blanket which is attached to a giant festival mask.
A comical detail is the observing look on the mask!

Literature: Utamaro, Kitagawa: Schatzkammer der Liebe. Ehon takara gura. By Franz Winzinger.

A great shunga print from a famous and rare Utamaro series !

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Extremely Rare Utamaro Shunga Masterpiece. Homo-Erotic - c.1803.

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Description:

Original antique Japanese color woodblock prints Utamaro (1753-1806). Shunga (Erotic print). Date: c.1803.
Half-size oban yoko-e size (O-tanzakuban yoko-e) : 6 1/2" x 14" inches. Very good impression, color and condition.
A slight vertical album fold, minor creases, marks and flaws otherwise a very well preserved print !
Full size, no repairs and wonderful use of gauffrage !

Another design from this series is housed in the collection of the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam !

p804 - - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Very Rare Masterpiece Utamaro - 1805 - Shunga. Ninja - Hanshibon.

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Description:
Original antique Japanese color woodblock Utamaro (1750-1806). Shunga (Erotic print). Date: c.1805.
Hanshibon size: 10 1/2" x 8 1/5" inches. Fine impression (with metallic pigments), colors and condition.
Very minor toning, virtually flawless state! From the book 'Ehon takara gura'.
An armed ronin (ninja) shines his lantern on an intimate couple! Look for the funny detail of the two running mice !

A similar design is reproduced in 'Shunga, the Art of Love in Japan' by Tom and Mary Evans on p232 (Illustr. 6.70) !

An extremely rare masterpiece and one of Utamaro's best book print designs !

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Original Utamaro Shunga c.1795. In a Boat. Utamaro ( 1750~1806 )

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Description:
Original antique Japanese single color woodblock Utamaro (1750-1806). Very good condition, color and impression.
Date: c.1795. Total size: 6 1/2" x 14" inches. Shunga (Erotic print) depiction of a intimate couple in a boat !
Embossing on the kimono of the man ! Margin trimming, centerfold (some separation and repair), a few small hole repairs, light wear and soiling, otherwise very good state ! Utamaro together with Harunobu are the great masters of Ukiyo-e in the portrayal of femininity and love !

A wonderful shunga design in a rare and unusual format !

p724 - - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Unique Utamaro - c.1800 - Shunga - Westerner With Courtisan.

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Description:
Original antique Japanese color woodblock Utamaro (1753-1806). Shunga (Erotic print). Date: c.1800.
Chubon size: 10 2/5" x 8 2/3" inches. Very good impression with metallic pigments, colors and near fine condition.
Some very minor soiling, marks and flaws ! A westerner (probably a Portuguese or Frenchman!)
is having intercourse with a courtisan ! Look for the Baroquian detail on the man's genitals !

Ex-Ferry Bertholet collection !

A magnificent print of utmost rarity ( most probably the only one around ! ) by one of the greatest
Ukiyo-e masters Utamaro !

p815 - - US$ > Currency Converter. Contact Info >

Very Rare Utamaro - Fated Lovers - Puppet Theatre - 1802.

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Description:
Original antique Japanese color woodblock Utamaro (1750-1806). Shunga (Erotic picture). Date: 1802.
Series:'Michiyuki koi no futozao' .(On the Road: Love Songs for the Thick-necked Shamisen). Size: 10 1/4" x 8 1/4" inches.
Very good impression (with gauffrage), color and condition. Backing, some very small repairs, minor marks and flaws.

Utamaro's famous shunga ehon Michiyuki koi no futozao was inspired by theatrical dramas of the Japanese puppet theater, the 'Bunraku'. The subject is based on dramatized tales (yet based on true stories) of 'fated lovers' who commit double 'love' suicide. The stories evolved into a line of dramas for 'Bunraku' and Kabuki theatre called shinju mono (double-suicide plays) and by chronicles on famous lovers, such as Gompachi and Komurosaki.

Shunga designs by Utamaro are very rare and highly treasured !

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