Shikishi — Small Japanese Paintings and Calligraphy Panels
Shikishi are the most Japanese form of painting — miniature art panels that combine brushwork, poetry, and calligraphy in a compact square format. Originating in the Heian period (9th–12th centuries), shikishi reflect the aesthetics of minimalism and the philosophy of Zen. Our gallery presents a growing archive of these small Japanese paintings, including works that are part of the collection today as well as rare shikishi that once passed through our hands.
Shunga (春画) is a type of Japanese erotic art typically executed as a kind of ukiyo-e, often in woodblock print format. While rare, there are also extant erotic painted handscrolls which predate ukiyo-e. Translated literally, the Japanese word shunga means picture of spring; "spring" is a common euphemism for sex.
To enter Riga Shunga Gallery you must be 18 or older