Shunga: Masterpieces of erotic art from the Edo period on display at the Maison de la culture du japon in Paris

For its upcoming exhibition, the Maison de la Culture du Japon in Paris spotlights Japanese erotic paintings and prints from the Edo period. Entitled "Shunga," the installation will showcase a number of genre masterpieces from November 12, 2026 to February 13, 2027, including works by Utamaro and Hokusai.

Masterpieces of erotic art from the Edo period (1603-1868) are coming to Paris this autumn and winter. From November 12, 2026 to February 13, 2027, the Maison de la culture du Japon is staging an exhibition dedicated to Japanese erotic paintings and prints, produced mainly in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Exclusively devoted to these shunga — or “spring images” — the installation titled “ Shunga ” will showcase on this occasion masterworks of the genre, including those by Utamaro and Hokusai.

To introduce the public to these rare works, long regarded as immoral, the Japan House will offer a chronological stroll, revisiting, in particular, these paintings originally produced as individual pieces and reserved for the nobility during the Heian era (794–1185). Later, in the 17th century, the art of shunga undergoes a major turning point with the mass diffusion of erotic prints and books. The scene then shifts to the golden age of shunga, marked by the 1765 appearance of the first truly polychrome prints, the nishiki-e.

Over the years, the themes of these shunga also shift. While the famed Yoshiwara district in Edo long served as a popular subject for artists, they later pivot to depicting married couples or lovers.

The exhibition will also address the censorship introduced as early as 1722, though at times circumvented by publishers and artists.

Today, reevaluated at their rightful value in Japan and around the world, the Japanese erotic paintings and prints are thus highlighted from November 12, 2026 to February 13, 2027 in Paris. Note that the exhibition will be for adults only. Furthermore, the Maison de la Culture du Japon à Paris announces that the presentation of the works will take place in two stages due to their fragility. Thus, the first part will be unveiled from November 12 to December 19, while the second will be shown from January 5 to February 13. Guided tours will also be scheduled on Thursdays, November 26 and January 21 at 5:30 PM, as well as Fridays, December 11 and February 5 at 3:00 PM.