return to shunga menu

view print

attr. to Utagawa KUNISADA (1786 - 1865)		Wakashu and Courtesan
		Date:                 c. 1840 Size:                  koban yoko-e (c. 12 x 18.5 cms / c. 4 3/4" x 7 1/8") Condition: FINE impression and color, very good condition. - Surimono-quality printing on DELUXE paper. - With the use of metalic (silver and gold) pigments. Ref. no.: # 621997 - Sold -

Wakashu were actors by profession; they played female roles, but being men, they shaved their forelocks and are usually shown, as here, with their foreheads covered in purple cloth. These were known as murasaki-boshi ('purple hats'). - Since wakashu, next to having been young actors playing female roles, often were boy prostitutes at the same time, in shunga they are often depicted in a homoerotic context, which doesn't seem to be the case here: the boy's partner seems to be a woman.

   return to shunga menu                                                                 view print