Painting on silk. Measures approximately 7x9.25”

The painting came from an antique fair in Tokyo. It is one of many that were in a set.

Antique Japanese Shunga paintings on silk are rare, hand-painted erotic artworks, often dating from the Edo (1600–1868) to Taisho (1912–1926) periods. These delicate, intimate paintings often feature vivid colors, intricate details, and were sometimes used as studies for woodblock prints or as private, high-demand artworks.

Materials and Preservation: Because silk is extremely fragile, these paintings are often mounted on paper or in hanging scroll formats. They frequently show signs of age, such as fading, stains, or damage to borders.

Artistic Style: Shunga ("Spring Pictures") frequently depict lovers, often with exaggerated features, in the ukiyo-e style. Some examples include detailed textile patterns and, in rare cases, gold thread embroidery.

Common Formats: These pieces are found as hanging scrolls, small hand-painted fragments, or sometimes, detailed, unique, hand-painted originals that served as the basis for woodblock-printed books (ehon).