1860 - Kunimori II - Rare Shunga Book - Panoramic Special - 101 cm Scene!
A rare and authentic late Edo Period original, c.1860, Japanese shunga woodblock print picture book in virtually mint condition, featuring elaborate deluxe-quality artwork attributed to Utagawa Kunimori II (active c.1848–1861).
The book measures 18 × 12 cm when closed and is approximately 1 cm thick, making it unusually substantial for a shunga picture book of this type. It contains 20 fully colored pages of exceptional shunga artwork, together with 18 additional black-and-white illustrated pages depicting erotic scenes. The remaining pages consist of original Japanese text.
Most remarkable, however, is the extraordinary construction of the colored artwork. Virtually all 20 colored pages form three elaborate hidden panoramic shunga scenes, ingeniously folded within one another and arranged within the book. The largest unfolds across an astounding 10 pages to approximately 101 cm (40 inches) in length, creating an exceptionally long continuous erotic composition.
Even more unusual, the three panoramic compositions are interconnected, with individual sections of the book combining and relating to one another to create an intricate visual puzzle. The reader must unfold and arrange the pages correctly to reveal the complete scenes. The ingenuity and meticulous precision with which these concealed panoramas have been designed is remarkable—we have rarely encountered an Edo-period shunga book with such an elaborate and meticulously executed construction.
The condition is simply outstanding—virtually mint. The only flaws to note of are that some pages show slight wormage at top white border. Please judge from the accompanying photographs.
The artwork itself is equally impressive. Colors remain rich and vibrant, while the impressions are crisp and beautifully preserved.
An exceptional and unusually sophisticated late-Edo period shunga picture book—distinguished by its three ingenious interconnected panoramic compositions, including a spectacular 101 cm-long scene. A remarkable example for the serious collector.
