Liefdespaar en ratten 1816

Katsushika Hokusai created this print titled 'Liefdespaar en ratten' using woodblock printing techniques. The composition is immediately striking, dominated by an entwined couple amidst elaborately patterned fabrics. The textures, created by the woodblock, add a tactile quality, drawing us into this intimate scene. Here, Hokusai plays with traditional erotic themes. The rats can be interpreted as symbols of fertility but also as a subtle disruption, injecting a hint of the grotesque into the idealized eroticism of the Shunga tradition. This juxtaposition destabilizes conventional interpretations of beauty and desire. Note how the intricate patterns on the robes contrast with the smooth, pale skin of the figures. This interplay of texture and form serves not only an aesthetic purpose but also enhances the thematic tension between idealized beauty and raw reality, inviting ongoing interpretation of its visual and cultural codes.