{"title":"Books by Andreas Marks","description":null,"products":[{"product_id":"hokusai-shunga","title":"Hokusai: Shunga","description":"\u003cp\u003eThink you know Hokusai (1760–1849)? Then you might be mistaken. Long before the Great Wave, the great master turned his hand (and his gaze) to much more intimate scenes. Whether maids or wives, courtesans, lovers, or curious onlookers—and yes, two notoriously playful octopuses: Hokusai’s shunga (literally “spring pictures”) are cheeky, joyful, and often hilariously funny.\u003cbr\u003eThis comprehensive portfolio brings together eight complete books and woodblock print series from 1786 to 1823 in one volume. Many of the accompanying stories were written by the artist himself. In this blend of image and text, the pages overflow with uninhibited anatomy, mischievous voyeurism, tender exchanges, and a surprisingly egalitarian attitude toward the pleasures of both sexes.\u003cbr\u003eUnlike in the prudish Europe of the 18th century, sexuality in Edo-period Japan (1603–1868) was accepted as a natural part of life. Although shunga were officially banned, they were tolerated in practice, allowing many renowned artists to circumvent censorship and enthusiastically engage with the genre—albeit under pseudonyms. The “spring pictures” were created to entertain or arouse and even served as good luck charms: samurai carried them as talismans when going into battle. Technical innovations in printing during Hokusai’s lifetime enabled rich colors and finely detailed textiles. But the content remained wonderfully human—full of risky rendezvous, stolen moments, and scenes of marital (or extramarital) bliss.\u003cbr\u003eWith new photographs of these rare works, a detailed introduction, and explanatory essays, this retrospective offers insight into a lesser-known but endlessly imaginative narrative strand of Hokusai’s more than seventy years of work—perhaps proof that even great masters have their secret pleasures.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Taschen","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":57131208245592,"sku":"9783836596282","price":100.0,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0925\/8464\/0856\/files\/9783836596282.jpg?v=1776463307"}],"url":"https:\/\/www.plasticbooks.uk\/en\/collections\/libros-andreas-marks.oembed","provider":"Plastic Books","version":"1.0","type":"link"}