About the Artist & Series
Kawanabe Kyōsai (1831–1889) was a prolific and wildly inventive artist of the late Edo to early Meiji era, renowned for his biting satire, mischievous humor, and bold imagination.  Often called the “demon painter,” Kyōsai seamlessly blended classical Japanese aesthetics with caricature, political commentary, and ribald humor.
 
This particular shunga woodblock print series titled The Great Tail (Ō-Shiri Monogatari, c. 1870) is one of Kyōsai’s rare and highly sought-after shunga (erotic art) series.  Unlike the more serene and intimate works of earlier shunga masters, Kyōsai’s approach bursts with energy and comic absurdity.  His figures are exaggerated, animated, and sometimes grotesque—mocking social conventions while celebrating the raw, unrestrained aspects of human desire.
 
This shunga woodblock print series captures Kyōsai’s signature mix of eroticism, wit, and theatrical chaos.  Each image tells a bawdy tale, revealing the artist’s playful rebellion against both artistic and societal norms of his time.  
 
Shunga picture measures 11.5 cm x 17.5 cm.  Good colors and impressions.  Good condition with some wear, soiling, bit of creasing, album backing on reverse.
 
Rare Lesbian “Pussy Inspection” Scene
This exceptionally rare lesbian-themed shunga woodblock print picture shows an all-female gathering indulging in both pleasure and curiosity.  Around the naked, exhibitionist-type women, robed women watch, laugh, and encourage their female brethren with expressions varying from amusement and desire.
 
Lesbian imagery in Edo & Meiji-period shunga is scarce, making this scene especially striking.  Kyōsai turns it into both an erotic spectacle and a playful moment of female camaraderie, free from any male presence.  It’s bold, unapologetic, and a true standout for collectors seeking the most unusual and boundary-pushing works in The Great Tail series.