4 Exploring Art and Eroticism: A timeline
Arts
Lily Boag A visual expression of physical passion
suggested that this couple could even
and sensuality, art has always been a
be Rembrandt himself, with his lover
means for creative sexual exploration.
Hendrickje Stoffels.
Sexual
desire
is
inherent
to
the
2. Ten Scenes of Lovemaking:
artistic value of sexual pleasure. 3. In Bed, the Kiss: Created by Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec in 1892, and displayed in the Tate, In
human condition, being the glorified
A handscroll painting by the artist
Bed, The Kiss portrays two women in
performance of the natural naked
Katsukawa Shun’ei, made during the
bed, holding each other in their arms,
body. Throughout history, our hunger
Edo period in Japan, this piece can
and embracing in a kiss. It is a beautiful
for depictions of human sexuality and
be found on display in the British
prejudice-free depiction of intimacy and
eroticised bodies has been reflected
Museum. A type of erotic Japanese
desire, a post-impressionist snapshot of
within the art world. Here are some of
Shunga art, often created as woodblock
a passionate moment. The painting is
the pieces that stand out within the art
prints, illustrations, and paintings, the
considered by the artist as the height
and eroticism timeline.
term Shunga in Japanese translates to
of pleasurable delight, capturing love’s
1. The French Bed:
‘spring’, a Japanese euphemism for sex.
tenderness in warm shades of red and
On display in the Rijksmuseum in
Representing idealised contemporary
yellow, surrounded by a softer pallet of
Amsterdam, Rembrandt’s ‘The French
urban life, varying widely in its portrayal
grey, green, and blue.
Bed’ created in 1646 is an etching and
of sexuality, this Japanese Shunga art
drypoint print which depicts a semi-
depicts luxurious sexual scenes and
clothed couple passionately making
graphic depictions of sexual intercourse
love in a four-poster bed. It is
in colourful detail, demonstrating the
