Japanese Shunga Woodblock Print

Crowded, colorful print where two figures embrace in robes of stars and flowers.

This shunga woodblock print of two lovers is by Two Lovers, from Japan, and dates to the early 20th century. It is ink on paper. Shunga prints were often issued as albums or illustrated books and are generally regarded as a serious, long-running part of Japanese art history. Hand-colored print, small in size, on cream ground shows two figures in an embrace inside a room with a gridded screen. Their robes are bright red, yellow and green with star and blossom patterns, and a square lantern-like seal sits at upper left. It is 5.2 inches wide and 3.75 high.

Busy with pattern, and quite unbothered by an audience.