BIJIN-GA

During the Edo period, Ukiyo-e (pictures of the floating world, primarily woodblock prints) became the primary driving force behind establishing a new and unique culture of the common people of the prospering city of Edo (now Tokyo). Besides pictures showing the famous Kabuki theatre actors, Bijin-ga was perhaps one of the most popular motifs for Ukiyo-e. The Ukiyo-e scene was fueled by libido and eroticism and some Shunga scholars advocate the idea that these portraits of beautiful women shoud be viewed with that in mind.