UNIDENTIFIED ARTISTS

UNIDENTIFIED ARTISTS
PROBABLY EDO AND MEIJI, 18TH AND 19TH CENTURY

Two Japanese shunga woodblock prints, the first unusually depicting the Goddess of Mirth Okame embracing a young man, her long hair curling under her, some details of the brocade textiles behind them rendered in karazuri (embossing), 15.7cm x 37.6cm; the other print of a partially clothed couple with food bowls beside them, interrupting their meal to enjoy each other, with lines of calligraphy above, 25.5cm x 38cm. (2)

Provenance: an English private collection, purchased c. 1970 from Kegan Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co., British publishers in London.