{"product_id":"keisai-eisen-shunga-woodblock-print-yoshiwara-courtesan-secret-lover","title":"Keisai Eisen Shunga Woodblock Print, Yoshiwara Courtesan and Her Secret Lover, Late Edo","description":"\u003cdiv class=\"jp-product\" data-world=\"Japan Luxury Archive\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-lede\"\u003eA Yoshiwara courtesan crowned in tortoiseshell pins slips into the arms of her secret lover, drawn by Keisai Eisen at the height of his powers.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-note\"\u003eThis piece belongs to the private room of the house and is shown to adults only.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eThe Piece\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe courtesan wears the towering tate-hyogo coiffure of the highest ranks, its pins fanning out like rays, and a checked outer robe over hemp-leaf silk. Her companion is her mabu, the lover a courtesan kept for her own heart rather than for business, and the intimate scene unfolds amid swirling water-pattern quilts, a lantern and a glimpse of bamboo. Brushed dialogue in the upper left carries the couple's whispered exchange, as shunga so often does.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis design was among those shown at a shunga exhibition pairing Hokusai and Eisen in Shinjuku, Tokyo, in May 2026.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eArt and Social History\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eKeisai Eisen (1790 to 1848) was the great painter of the Edo pleasure quarters, celebrated for sensual, assertive beauties, and he was also one of the most prolific shunga designers of his day. Shunga, spring pictures, were known too as makura-e, pillow pictures, and the theme of the courtesan's private love was a favourite because it set real feeling against the theatre of the Yoshiwara.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDetails\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul class=\"jp-details\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArtist:\u003c\/strong\u003e Keisai Eisen (1790 to 1848)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSubject:\u003c\/strong\u003e A Yoshiwara courtesan and her secret lover\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eGenre:\u003c\/strong\u003e Shunga (makura-e)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMedium:\u003c\/strong\u003e Woodblock printed in colour on Japanese paper\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePeriod:\u003c\/strong\u003e Late Edo period\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eFormat:\u003c\/strong\u003e Single horizontal sheet\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSheet size:\u003c\/strong\u003e About 25.5 x 17.6 cm (10.0 x 6.9 in)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eSignature:\u003c\/strong\u003e Unsigned, as is usual for shunga\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMade in:\u003c\/strong\u003e Japan\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMeasured by hand; please allow a gentle margin of about 1 to 2 cm (0.5 in).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eCondition\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eA vertical fold crease at the centre of the sheet.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003ePeel marks on the reverse where the sheet was once mounted, shown in the last photograph.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eLight wear and toning; no worm holes or tears.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eCondition grade \u003cstrong\u003eB (very good)\u003c\/strong\u003e on the Japanese scale; see \u003ca href=\"\/de\/blogs\/news\/japanese-condition-ranks-explained\"\u003eJapanese condition ranks, explained\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eAuthenticity \u0026amp; Care\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eOffered as an original Edo period woodblock print designed by Keisai Eisen, as described; the attribution rests on the design and printing seen in the photographs. Keep it flat and out of direct light.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ch2\u003eDelivery from Japan\u003c\/h2\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eShipped flat between rigid boards, never rolled, insured and tracked by EMS or an equivalent express service. Import duties and taxes, where applicable, are payable on arrival. Every sale is final; please ask anything you wish to know before you buy, and see our \u003ca href=\"\/de\/policies\/refund-policy\"\u003epublished policy\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"jp-closing\"\u003e\u003cp\u003eConsidered offers are welcome through Send an Offer, and each one is reviewed personally. Further pieces of the kind are kept in \u003ca href=\"\/de\/collections\/shunga-hidden-arts\"\u003eShunga and Hidden Arts\u003c\/a\u003e and in our \u003ca href=\"\/de\/collections\/japanese-woodblock-print-ukiyoe-culture-classical-texts-archive\"\u003eukiyo-e and classical texts archive\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003cdiv class=\"jp-cta\" data-world=\"Japan Luxury Archive\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-cta-eyebrow\"\u003eConcierge\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eSeeking a particular artist or design? Our Hunting Salon™ locates it across Japan's private collector circles, then inspects, documents and delivers it to you. \u003ca href=\"\/de\/pages\/hunting-salon%E2%84%A2\"\u003eBegin a Hunting Salon™ request\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"jp-search\"\u003eCollectors also search: keisai eisen shunga print · edo courtesan erotic woodblock · original yoshiwara shunga ukiyo-e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e","brand":"Keisai Eisen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54483255558437,"sku":"JP-CL-Z717144816","price":2345.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0758\/8829\/6229\/files\/eisen-shunga-print-01.jpg?v=1794590901","url":"https:\/\/japonista.com\/de\/products\/keisai-eisen-shunga-woodblock-print-yoshiwara-courtesan-secret-lover","provider":"Japonista","version":"1.0","type":"link"}