⚔️ Utagawa Kunisada (Toyokuni III) – Bound Husband – Orgy Under the Pines – c.1826
Series: Kaidan Yoru no Tono (怪談夜の殿) — Tales of Pussy in the Palace at Night
Date: Bunsei 9 (1826)
Author: Utei Enba II (1792–1862)
Medium: Original Edo-period color woodblock print picture, shunga (Spring Picture)
 
Description:
A hauntingly dramatic and psychologically charged composition from Kunisada’s Bunsei-era masterpiece Kaidan Yoru no Tono.
Set beneath a pine tree, a woman is depicted in a frenzied orgy while her bound husband is forced to watch in despair — a vision of humiliation and carnal defiance rarely seen in Edo shunga.
 
Though initially read as a scene of rape/assault, the woman’s active participation and passionate kiss reveal a more complex narrative: she is a willing participant, heightening the torment of her restrained husband.  The aristocratic man in the green robe — identified by his crested attire — oversees the act, underscoring the power dynamics and cruelty at play.
 
Kunisada’s mastery is evident in the emotional contrasts — lust, dominance, and shame — executed through rich pigments, detailed textile patterns, and bold linework.  A chilling yet exquisite psychological tableau from one of Edo’s most daring erotic story cycles.
 
Condition:
Nice impressions with rich color retention.  Overall decent+ condition with handling wear, soiling, worn bottom corners.  No backing.
 
Size:
Approx. 27.2 × 22 cm 
 
References:
Teihon Ukiyo-e Shunga Meihin Shusei, Vol.10, Yoshikazu Hayashi
Japanese Erotic Art: The Hidden World of Shunga, Ofer Shagan, 2013
A Harlot’s Account of Vernal Love (Shunjo Gidan Mizuagechō), D.M. Richardson, 1994