A sheet from a shunga album
1679
Medium
Woodblock print; sumizuri-e
Dimensions
26.6 × 41.2 cm (10 7/16 × 16 3/16 in.)
Department
Arts of Asia
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
193723
Art Historical Context
This captivating sheet from a *shunga* album, produced in 1679 during Japan's Edo period, exemplifies the intimate artistry of erotic woodblock prints. *Shunga*—literally "pictures of spring"—were privately commissioned albums celebrating sensuality, often shared among friends or as wedding gifts. Rendered in *sumizuri-e*, a technique using only black ink paper, this 26.6 × 41.2 cm print highlights the precision of early woodblock printing before multicolored *nishiki-e* emerged. The anonymous artist's mastery shines in the fluid lines and subtle shading (*kiriage*), creating depth and moveme...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...