Chine (Chine)

12 Chinese erotic watercolors, ink and colors on paper, each painting depicting an erotic scene in an interior or garden.
Accordion binding with cover of green silk embroidered in various colors. All leaves of the album are covered with damask raw silk. Each painting 16x19.2cm is mounted on silk. Some fabric losses at edges, 2 small losses on the back cover. One of the accordion folds partially cut, at the fold. All paintings are in very good condition.
Chinese erotic games as represented in paintings appear extremely different from their Japanese neighbors. Furthermore, Chinese erotic art remains relatively unknown compared to Japanese erotic art. There is undoubtedly a humorous atmosphere in these paintings, whether we see a man examining a woman's genitals with a magnifying glass, an old man seemingly supplicating a woman who carries a child on her back, or the presence of children. The women are always wearing shoes and have very small feet, as one was not supposed to see a woman's feet and small feet were a sign of beauty and eroticism. In drawing and execution, the presence of line is characteristic, whether it clothes the scene with a screen or represents the bodies, strangely stylized. Primacy is given to lines and curves rather than volumes.
The authors of these paintings are initially groups of students learning to create erotic images under a master's tutelage, by copying masterpieces. The paintings are rarely signed so as not to compromise the artist's reputation.
The date is given as an indication, the collection possibly being earlier or later.

Scroll unrolling horizontally with a title leaf of 3 ideograms (Spring Dream) and 11 colored prints mounted on silk (actually a single print consisting of 11 scenes). When fully unrolled, the ensemble reaches 250cm. The scroll is held closed by a string, the paper is rolled around a piece of wood.
The scroll, made of relatively thick paper is covered with fine silk on the side where the engraving is mounted. The 11 scenes consist of a single long printing on 180 cm, one can perceive by the presence of the lower margin that these 11 scenes were thus printed several times on a large sheet, which were then cut out. This type of printing required a large press. Each scene measures approximately 16x20cm.
Excellent condition. One crease on one of the prints.
It is quite difficult to date this type of anonymous production with exactitude, which can be situated from the end of the 19th century until the 1930s, or even beyond. The 11 scenes depict amorous frolics and sexual practices with more diversity than in Japanese erotic prints (shunga). The scenes take place outdoors, among luxuriant nature or in richly furnished interiors. Painters had specialized in this type of paintings and it is not uncommon to find certain prints mixed with other collections.