Recent Articles

The story behind William Monk’s new lithograph, Mount Atom, 2025

Meet the Artist

The story behind William Monk’s new lithograph, Mount Atom, 2025

Harland Miller on his new edition

Meet the Artist

‘This is the first incarnation of XXX. That makes it intimate,’ Harland Miller says of his new edition

Jim Hodges – ‘The artwork is an opportunity for connection.'

Meet the Artist

Jim Hodges – ‘The artwork is an opportunity for connection. It was conceived as a meditation and a celebration to honor the beauty we share.’

Patricia Cronin tells Artspace about her new editions

Meet the Artist

Patricia Cronin talks about Harriet Hosmer, the inspiration behind her new series of prints

Cig Harvey tell us about her new edition, Wisteria, 2025

Meet the Artist

Photographer Cig Harvey tell us about her new Artspace and Monacelli edition, Wisteria, 2025.

Michaela Yearwood-Dan announces new edition, Dream a little dream

Meet the Artist

Michaela Yearwood-Dan's new edition, Dream a little dream, is hand-finished with acrylic paint, oil pastel, ink, and glitter.

How is 2025 shaping up for Cig Harvey?

Meet the Artist

How is 2025 shaping up for Cig Harvey?

Shahzia Sikander tells Artspace about her new limited edition

Meet the Artist

Shahzia Sikander talks about a new Artspace edition accompanying her two big US shows

How is 2025 shaping up for Shahzia Sikander?

Meet the Artist

How is 2025 shaping up for Shahzia Sikander?

Collect a hand-painted ceramic amphora by Adam Pendleton

Meet the Artist

Why Adam Pendleton’s hand-painted ceramic amphora would look great in your home.

The Phaidon Folio

10 Masterpieces of Japanese Erotica That May Complicate Your Sex Life

By Artspace Editors

May 25, 2016

10 Masterpieces of Japanese Erotica That May Complicate Your Sex Life

In the Western tradition, the idealized nude and—more explicitly—sex have long been sticking points in artistic discourse across generations—controversial for their beauty on the one hand, and its supposedly sinful nature on the other. In stark contrast, Japanese erotica in paintings and prints have held a ubiquitous position in society, starting with the Heian aristocracy of the ninth century and trickling down to a rising, modern urban middle class. While styles have changed over the centuries, these works are connected by a shared celebration of life's fleeting, earthly pleasures under the term ukiyo-e, or the Floating World.

With Phaidon's compendium Poem of the Pillow and Other Stories guiding our journey, we take a spin around traditional pleasure quarters with these ten arousing artworks of Japanese erotic art.

GENJI’S ELEGANT PILLOW (GENJI KYASHA MAKURA)
Hishikawa Moronobu
1676

GENJIS ELEGANT PILLOW (GENJI KYASHA MAKURA)Hishikawa Moronobu 1676

SCENES OF LOVEMAKING
Sugimura Jihei
mid-1680s

SCENES OF LOVEMAKING Sugimura Jihei mid-1680s

EROTIC CONTEST OF FLOWERS
Torii Kiyonobu I
c.1710

EROTIC CONTEST OF FLOWERS Torii Kiyonobu c.1710

[MOUNTAIN OF DYED COLORS] PATTERNS OF THE BEDROOMS ([SOME IRO NO YAMA] NEYA NO HINAGATA)
Okumura Masanobu
c.1740

[MOUNTAIN OF DYED COLORS] PATTERNS OF THE BEDROOMS ([SOME IRO NO YAMA] NEYA NO HINAGATA) Okumura Masanobu c.1740

OSEN
Suzuki Harunobu
c.1768

OSEN Suzuki Harunobu c.1768

PROSPEROUS FLOWERS OF THE ELEGANT TWELVE MONTHS (FŪRYŪ JŪNIKI NO EIGA)
Isoda Koryūsai
1772–3

PROSPEROUS FLOWERS OF THE ELEGANT TWELVE MONTHS (FŪRYŪ JŪNIKI NO EIGA) Isoda Koryūsai 1772

A TRIO
Kitao Masanobu
c.1782

A TRIO Kitao Masanobu c.1782

THE THREAD OF THE PRESENT-DAY LOVE ENCOUNTERS (IMAYŌ IROKUMI NO ITO)
Katsukawa Shunchō
c.1786

THE THREAD OF THE PRESENT-DAY LOVE ENCOUNTERS (IMAYŌ IROKUMI NO ITO) Katsukawa Shunchō c.1786

POEM OF THE PILLOW (UTAMAKURA)
Kitagawa Utamaro
1788

POEM OF THE PILLOW (UTAMAKURA) Kitagawa Utamaro 1788

PINING FOR LOVE (KINOE NO KOMATSU)
Katsushika Hokusai
1814

PINING FOR LOVE (KINOE NO KOMATSU) Katsushika Hokusai 1814

Current Shows

THANKS FOR SIGNING UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER.

THAT EMAIL HAS ALREADY BEEN SUBSCRIBED.

Now, personalize your account so you can discover more art you'll love.

PERSONALIZE YOUR ACCOUNT

DISCOVER

a treasure trove of fine art from the world's most renowned artists, galleries, museums and cultural institutions. We offer exclusive works you can't find anywhere else.

LEARN

through exclusive content featuring art news, collecting guides, and interviews with artists, dealers, collectors, curators and influencers.

BUY

authentic artworks from across the globe. Collecting with us means you're helping to sustain creative culture and supporting organizations that are making the world a better place.

CONNECT

with our art advisors for buying advice or to help you find the art that's perfect for you. We have the resources to find works that suit your needs.

INSIDER ACCESS TO THE WORLD'S BEST ART

Artspace offers you authentic, exclusive works from world-renowned artists, galleries, museums and cultural institutions. Collecting with us helps support creative culture while bringing you art news, interviews and access to global art resources.

COLLECT FROM 300+ GALLERIES & MUSEUMS

Partners You'd Like to Follow

Enter or select all partners that interest you:

<FollowQuerySet [{'obj_id': 89, 'obj_name': 'M+B', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 1765}, {'obj_id': 1, 'obj_name': 'America: Now+Here', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2164}, {'obj_id': 25, 'obj_name': 'Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2176}, {'obj_id': 16, 'obj_name': 'David Zwirner', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 7490}, {'obj_id': 408, 'obj_name': 'Pace Prints ', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2675}, {'obj_id': 274, 'obj_name': 'Electric Works', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 1474}]>

M+B

<FollowQuerySet [{'obj_id': 89, 'obj_name': 'M+B', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 1765}, {'obj_id': 1, 'obj_name': 'America: Now+Here', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2164}, {'obj_id': 25, 'obj_name': 'Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2176}, {'obj_id': 16, 'obj_name': 'David Zwirner', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 7490}, {'obj_id': 408, 'obj_name': 'Pace Prints ', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2675}, {'obj_id': 274, 'obj_name': 'Electric Works', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 1474}]>

America: Now+Here

<FollowQuerySet [{'obj_id': 89, 'obj_name': 'M+B', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 1765}, {'obj_id': 1, 'obj_name': 'America: Now+Here', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2164}, {'obj_id': 25, 'obj_name': 'Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2176}, {'obj_id': 16, 'obj_name': 'David Zwirner', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 7490}, {'obj_id': 408, 'obj_name': 'Pace Prints ', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2675}, {'obj_id': 274, 'obj_name': 'Electric Works', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 1474}]>

Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts

<FollowQuerySet [{'obj_id': 89, 'obj_name': 'M+B', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 1765}, {'obj_id': 1, 'obj_name': 'America: Now+Here', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2164}, {'obj_id': 25, 'obj_name': 'Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2176}, {'obj_id': 16, 'obj_name': 'David Zwirner', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 7490}, {'obj_id': 408, 'obj_name': 'Pace Prints ', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2675}, {'obj_id': 274, 'obj_name': 'Electric Works', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 1474}]>

David Zwirner

<FollowQuerySet [{'obj_id': 89, 'obj_name': 'M+B', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 1765}, {'obj_id': 1, 'obj_name': 'America: Now+Here', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2164}, {'obj_id': 25, 'obj_name': 'Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2176}, {'obj_id': 16, 'obj_name': 'David Zwirner', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 7490}, {'obj_id': 408, 'obj_name': 'Pace Prints ', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2675}, {'obj_id': 274, 'obj_name': 'Electric Works', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 1474}]>

Pace Prints

<FollowQuerySet [{'obj_id': 89, 'obj_name': 'M+B', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 1765}, {'obj_id': 1, 'obj_name': 'America: Now+Here', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2164}, {'obj_id': 25, 'obj_name': 'Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2176}, {'obj_id': 16, 'obj_name': 'David Zwirner', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 7490}, {'obj_id': 408, 'obj_name': 'Pace Prints ', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 2675}, {'obj_id': 274, 'obj_name': 'Electric Works', 'follow_type': 'partner', 'num_follows': 1474}]>

Electric Works

4 of 4

Damien Hirst, Pardon, 2012

James Welling, H1, 2006

Josh Smith,LARGE IMAGE J.S. (Untitled, 2006), 2012

Sol LeWitt, Two Centimeter Wavy Bands In Colors, 1996

Coke Wisdom O'Neal, The Gospel of Wealth, 2013

Alex Katz, Coleman Pond II, 2007