Shunga · Chefs-d’œuvre de l’art érotique à l’époque Edo (1603-1868)

The exhibition “Shunga” explores erotic paintings, prints and books from Japan’s Edo period (1603–1868), including works by Utamaro and Hokusai. At the Maison de la culture du Japon à Paris, it traces the evolution of these “spring pictures”, from paintings intended for an elite audience to prints circulated among city dwellers.

Woodblock printing, followed by the development of full-colour prints in the 18th century, gave these intimate scenes new forms of expression. Desire mingles with humour, botanical allusions and literary parody. Looking beyond the pleasure quarters, artists also depict married couples and lovers, and imagine encounters with ghosts or fantastical creatures. The exhibition concludes by showing how bans introduced as early as 1722 prompted publishers and artists to find ways around censorship. Because the works are fragile, two successive selections will be displayed over the course of the exhibition.

Practical information
- Exhibition hall, level 2.
- Tuesday to Saturday, 11am to 7pm; last admission at 6:30pm.
- First selection on display until 19 December; second selection from 5 January.
- Closed on public holidays and from 20 December to 4 January inclusive.
- Admission restricted to visitors over 18.