The Handscroll of Ten Homoerotic (Nanshoku) Scenes by Miyagawa Chōshun is a rare and significant work in the realm of Japanese art, particularly within the context of ukiyo-e. This handscroll, dated to the early 18th century, stands out for its explicit depiction of male-male sexual liaisons, a theme that was not uncommon during the Edo period but is rarely captured in surviving deluxe paintings.

Context and Significance

During the Edo period, there was no taboo or stigma associated with male-male sexual relationships. Many famous writers, artists, and celebrities were known to have same-sex lovers. However, despite this societal acceptance, painted images of same-sex erotic encounters are quite rare. This handscroll is doubly remarkable because it is an entire work dedicated to homoerotic liaisons, a rarity in the genre.

Artistic Style and Influence

Miyagawa Chōshun was a Japanese painter in the ukiyo-e style who founded the Miyagawa school. Unlike most ukiyo-e artists, he did not create woodblock prints but instead produced many hand-painted works. This handscroll is signed by the artist, which is unusual for erotica of this period. Chōshun styles himself as Hishikawa Chōshun, indicating his stylistic lineage from the pioneering Ukiyo-e artist Hishikawa Moronobu.

Composition and Details

The handscroll depicts ten scenes of lovemaking between an older man and one or a pair of younger men dressed in flamboyant costumes. Some appear to be scions of samurai families, while others are young Kabuki actors who played female roles on the stage. One scene includes a female voyeur peeking at the amorous activities from behind a screen. The final five scenes are more explicit than the preceding ones and show the lovers posed with accoutrements such as a shamisen (three-stringed musical instrument) and a tray of smoking utensils.

Preservation and Exhibition

This handscroll is part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It has been published in various art books and exhibitions, including "Images from the Floating World: The Japanese Print" by Richard Lane and "The Love of the Samurai: A Thousand Years of Japanese Homosexuality" by Tsuneo Watanabe and Jun'ichi Iwata.

Conclusion

The Handscroll of Ten Homoerotic (Nanshoku) Scenes by Miyagawa Chōshun is a significant piece of Japanese art that provides insight into the societal norms and artistic expressions of the Edo period. Its rarity and explicit content make it a valuable artifact for understanding the history of homoerotic themes in Japanese art.

• Painting by 'Miyagawa Chōshun' | Miyagawa Chōshun: Handscroll of Ten Homoerotic (Nanshoku) Scenes
• Artist: Miyagawa Chōshun | Miyagawa Chōshun (Japanese: 宮川 長春 1683 – 18 December 1753)

Important Note: This article is based on the information available at ArtsDot.com and Wikipedia.