Poem of the Pillow
July 10th 2010 06:55
Original Creative Writing:
Utamaro, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi and Other Artists of the Floating World
Phaidon Press to Publish
Poem of the Pillow and Other Stories
Erotic Japanese Art by Utamaro, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi and other artists of the
Floating World
During the 17th and 18th centuries, as the Western world aligned itself with doctrines of chaste living, quite a different cultural code was forming in the East.
While European men and women were advised against sexual fantasies and indulgences, Japanese artists of the ukiyo-e period were producing and distributing highly erotic artwork to encourage sexual satisfaction and exploration.
Phaidon Press is pleased to announce the publication of POEM OF THE PILLOW AND OTHER STORIES: by Utamaro, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi and other artists of the Floating World by renowned expert of Japanese art Gian Carlo Calza (Phaidon; June 2010; 350 colour images), making these images widely available to the west for the first time in centuries.
Known as Shunga, or spring images, these illustrations were vastly admired, of excellent quality, and were enormously popular in Japanese society. The Pillow books were explicit depictions of sexual life, meant to inform, thrill, and entertain.
Some Shunga images depict famous tales, while others present unrelated sequences of sexual scenes, featuring all ages from virginal teenagers to old married couples, as well as all types of sexual activities.
Japanese of the ukiyo-e period were not so much interested in the naked body as they were enthralled with carnal pleasure, and most of the figures in Shunga are fully or partially clothed as they engage in highly erotic sexual acts.
POEM OF THE PILLOW is a luxurious object, and is itself a source of beautiful fascination.
The book jacket is subtly concealed by a transparent half-cover of fine silk-thread paper with gold blocking. The erotic images are delicately hidden, but slightly exposed, underneath.
Additionally, each book includes a print of Utamaro's famous erotic scene from Poem of the Pillow that can be removed and framed.
Masters of the ukiyo-e period (17th - 19th century), such as Utamaro, Hokusai, Harunobu, Kunisada, Kuniyoshi, among others that are represented in POEM OF THE PILLOW, used vivid imagery and vibrant colours, which were unique for the time they were created. Shunga were introduced to Europe in the late 1800's by travelers who brought them back from their voyages, and they were known to have had an influence on the colours and styles used by Edgar Degas, Vincent van Gough, and Paul Gauguin.
Gian Carlo Calza's POEM OF THE PILLOW is a unique collection of Shunga, having gathered images from both private and public collections, and therefore offers a great variety of examples from traditional Japanese erotica.
About the Author
Gian Carlo Calza is Professor of East Asian Art History and Director of the International Hokusai Research Centre at the University of Venice. A distinguished authority on Japanese art, he has published many books and articles on several artists, including Phaidon's monograph on Hokusai (2003), as well as Phaidon's Ukiyo-e (2005) and Japan Style (2007).
Contents
Introduction by Gian Carlo Calza, followed by stories and prints organized by artists.
Title Information
Title Poem of the Pillow and Other Stories by Utamaro, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi and Other Artists of the Floating World
Author Gian Carlo Calza
ISBN 978 0 7148 4996 6
Extent 384 pages
Binding Hardback
Poem of the Pillow and Other Stories
Erotic Japanese Art by Utamaro, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi and other artists of the
Floating World
During the 17th and 18th centuries, as the Western world aligned itself with doctrines of chaste living, quite a different cultural code was forming in the East.
While European men and women were advised against sexual fantasies and indulgences, Japanese artists of the ukiyo-e period were producing and distributing highly erotic artwork to encourage sexual satisfaction and exploration.
Phaidon Press is pleased to announce the publication of POEM OF THE PILLOW AND OTHER STORIES: by Utamaro, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi and other artists of the Floating World by renowned expert of Japanese art Gian Carlo Calza (Phaidon; June 2010; 350 colour images), making these images widely available to the west for the first time in centuries.
Known as Shunga, or spring images, these illustrations were vastly admired, of excellent quality, and were enormously popular in Japanese society. The Pillow books were explicit depictions of sexual life, meant to inform, thrill, and entertain.
POEM OF THE PILLOW is a luxurious object, and is itself a source of beautiful fascination.
The book jacket is subtly concealed by a transparent half-cover of fine silk-thread paper with gold blocking. The erotic images are delicately hidden, but slightly exposed, underneath.
Additionally, each book includes a print of Utamaro's famous erotic scene from Poem of the Pillow that can be removed and framed.
Masters of the ukiyo-e period (17th - 19th century), such as Utamaro, Hokusai, Harunobu, Kunisada, Kuniyoshi, among others that are represented in POEM OF THE PILLOW, used vivid imagery and vibrant colours, which were unique for the time they were created. Shunga were introduced to Europe in the late 1800's by travelers who brought them back from their voyages, and they were known to have had an influence on the colours and styles used by Edgar Degas, Vincent van Gough, and Paul Gauguin.
Gian Carlo Calza's POEM OF THE PILLOW is a unique collection of Shunga, having gathered images from both private and public collections, and therefore offers a great variety of examples from traditional Japanese erotica.
About the Author
Gian Carlo Calza is Professor of East Asian Art History and Director of the International Hokusai Research Centre at the University of Venice. A distinguished authority on Japanese art, he has published many books and articles on several artists, including Phaidon's monograph on Hokusai (2003), as well as Phaidon's Ukiyo-e (2005) and Japan Style (2007).
Contents
Introduction by Gian Carlo Calza, followed by stories and prints organized by artists.
Title Information
Title Poem of the Pillow and Other Stories by Utamaro, Hokusai, Kuniyoshi and Other Artists of the Floating World
Author Gian Carlo Calza
ISBN 978 0 7148 4996 6
Extent 384 pages
Binding Hardback
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David Jobling
