Reproduction Print – From Katsushika Hokusai’s Color-Printed Hanshibon “Manpuku Wagojin” Vol. 1 / Bunsei 4 (1821)

Katsushika Hokusai, whose artistic career spanned over 70 years, is said to have created more than 30,000 works. He also produced shunga, and among his erotic prints, Manpuku Wagojin is considered one of the most striking examples of his talent.

Regarded as a masterpiece in the history of shunga, this work tells the story of two girls from contrasting backgrounds—Osane, born into a wealthy family, and Otsubi, born into a poor family—tracing their lives alternately from age 13 to 30.

This illustration depicts the protagonists, Osane and Otsubi, at 13 years old in a ōkubi-e (large-head) format:

Sawaya Yusuke’s daughter, age 13

Kuwanuya Hinbee’s daughter, age 13

The differences in their social status are expressed through their clothing, hairpins, and makeup. The “kai (tsubi)” written on the bathing bucket held by Otsubi is a euphemism for female genitalia.


後70年の画業の中で、約3万点を超える作品を遺したといわれる葛飾北斎。春画にも筆をふるい、『万福和合人』は、葛飾北斎の艶本の中でも、もっともその才気が際立つ。
春画史においても屈指の名作とされる本作は、裕福な家に生まれたおさねと、貧しい家に生まれたおつび——対照的な境遇のふたりの少女の性遍歴を、13歳から30歳まで交互に綴った物語。

この図は、主人公のおさねとおつび13歳の大首絵。

沢山屋有助がむすめ 十三才のかたち
食わぬ屋貧兵衛がむすめ 十三才のすがた
とされている。

二人の生まれた境遇の違いが、着物やかんざし、紅によって描き分けられている。おつびが手にする湯桶記された「開(つび)」は女性器の隠語。


Size
A4: H31.8 cm × W23.1 cm