Shunga

For other uses of the term Shunga see Shunga (disambiguation)

Production

Shunga were produced between the sixteenth century and the nineteenth century by ukiyo-e (floating world) painters, since they sold more easily and at a higher price than their ordinary work. Shunga prints were produced and sold either as single sheets or - more frequently - in book form, called enpon. Shunga was also produced in hand scroll format, called kakemono-e. This format was also popular, though more expensive as the scrolls had to be individually painted.

Related Topics:
Sixteenth century - Nineteenth century - Ukiyo-e - Hand scroll - Kakemono-e

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The quality of shunga art varies, and no ukiyoe painters remained aloof from the genre. Experienced artisans including ukiyoe painters found it to their advantage to concentrate on their production. This led to the appearance of shunga by first rate artists. Ukiyoe painters owed a stable livelihood to such customs, and, it appears that producing a piece of shunga for a high-ranking client brought them enough money to live on for about six months.

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Most ukiyo-e shunga prints were produced in Edo. Rarely, they were produced in Osaka or Kyoto. The coloration of those prints is richer, and matte, in comparison with Edo works. This effect came from the use of gofun, powdered white clamshell, which was mixed into pigments used in multicolored prints in Osaka and Kyoto.

Related Topics:
Edo - Osaka - Kyoto - Gofun

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