Erotische voorstelling c. 1678 - 1698

This erotic print was made by Hishikawa Moroshige. Though the exact date remains unknown, it was skillfully created using ink on paper. Moroshige was a pioneer of the Ukiyo-e style. The lines in this print are so confident. Look at the details of the clothing, the patterns, and the way the bodies are rendered. You can tell Moroshige knew his way around the tools of woodblock printing. The sharp line quality creates a striking contrast. The Ukiyo-e style emerged during the Edo period, when Japan experienced economic growth and urbanization, leading to the rise of a merchant class with disposable income and a taste for art. Woodblock prints, including erotica like this one, became popular among this demographic, offering affordable and accessible images of pleasure and entertainment. This piece offers a window into the cultural values and social dynamics of the time. It is an early example of mass culture, produced through the division of labor. There was an artist, a block cutter, and a printer involved in the process. This print shows us that graphic reproduction has a longer history than we might think.