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The New Mirror of Male Love
anonymous, 1711
Woodblock printed book containing 15 tales of homosexual love and desire between old and young samurai. 5 volumes in original wrappers; five double-page and 10 single-page woodcut illustrations. First edition. The preface discusses the nature of nanshoku (male-male sexual relationships). The illustrations are not overtly erotic but depict key dramatic and brutal moments. Many of the young samurai in the images are depicted wearing womanly kimono. The first double-page image shows a procession of samurai, with one of them turning his head towards a kneeling young samurai. A subsequent image shows a young samurai being rescued from the water by older samurai. Another images depicts a young samurai who has just committed ritual suicide, presumably from a broken heart. The final woodcut in the fifth volume shows a young samurai trying to save the life of an older samurai, who has just been brutally attacked with a sword by a jealous rival.
- Artwork typebook, shunga
- Object numberRP-P-2025-5
- Dimensionsheight 260 mm x width 178 mm
- Physical characteristicshoutsnede