The Twelve Months with the Box of Seduction: Eisen or Utamaro?: A cognitive case study in shunga

by Utamaro Kitagawa, Maki Mishima (Translator)

This set of shunga prints has Eisen-like style and ambience, but one must read the texts before one can say who the artist is. This set of shunga---just call it "The Twelve Months with the Box of Seduction---is intriguing or rather puzzling. Utamaro has similar compositions of the lovers in his series of shunga called "Ehon Komachi-biki." You are invited to read the texts and compare the two artists' prints so that you can make it clear who the artist is of "The Twelve Months with the Box of Seduction." This set shares the texts with Utamaro's "Ehon Komachi-biki." The second edition of "Ehon Komachi-biki" was reproduced in 1995 to celebrate the revival of shunga. At the Christie's one set fetched $242.500 in 2009. The whole view of the three editions has never been clear. The mysterious set has 12 prints. So does Utamaro's "Ehon Komachi-biki." But one print of "The Twelve Months" has no corresponding text to the set of Utamaro prints. "The Twelve Months" could be important for the study of "Ehon Komachi-biki." It also sheds some light on cognitive study. You will surely enjoy the aspect changes.

48 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 8, 2020