This is a limited, lithographically printed, production run of a Japanese woodcut print (Ukiyo-e).

They are not Inkjets or Laser prints that are very popular at the moment.

The number of colours and the near perfect registration shows the true skills of the artists,

who produced these woodcuts.

Ukiyo-e translates as ‘Pictures of the floating world’. Ukiyo-e came to describe the hedonistic

lifestyle at the time and with rapid economic growth, the wealthy could afford to decorate

their homes with painted and printed works of art.

Shunga paintings and prints were very popular with all classes during the Edo and Meiji era.

Although explicit, the couples depicted in the paintings were usually fully clothed, as total nudity wasn’t considered erotic.

Shunga translates as ‘Picture of Spring’, Spring was a common euphemism for sex. 

The finished size of this print is 312mm x 440mm.