Hokusai. Shunga

If you think you know Hokusai (1760–1849), think again. Long before The Great Wave, the great master turned his hand (and eye) to something altogether more intimate. From maidservants and wives to courtesans, lovers, and curious onlookers – and, yes, an infamous pair of frisky octopuses – Hokusai's shunga (literally “spring pictures”) are bold, joyful, and often laugh-out-loud funny.This comprehensive portfolio brings together eight complete books and print sets from 1786–1823, with many of their accompanying narratives penned by the artist himself. Blending the visual with the verbal, the pages brim with exaggerated anatomy, impish voyeurism, tender exchanges, and a surprisingly egalitarian attitude to enjoyment for both sexes.In contrast to the prudery of 18th-century Europe, Edo-period (1603–1868) Japan accepted sexuality as a natural part of life.