Although hidden from the public eye, the erotic works known as Shunga were extremely popular for centuries in Japan. The sexually explicit nature of the images was one of the reasons this exhibition could not be shown in Japan or abroad. Love letters, erotic novels, humorous poetry and kabuki theatre bring to life a world of geishas, actors and courtesans, offering a glimpse of seventeenth and eighteenth-century Japan.
This largest-ever retrospective comprises works from museums and private collections from around the world. Desire of Spring emphasises three elements typical of Shunga: eroticism, aesthetics and humour. The quality of the more than 200 selected works is exceptionally high. Several of the pieces have never been exhibited in public. The exhibition was collated by guest curator Chris Uhlenbeck.
About your visit
Frequently Asked Questions
Skip listThe Kunsthal is open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 10:00 to 17:00 hrs. The Kunsthal Café opens half an hour earlier, so you can visit from 9:30 hrs until half an hour after closing time. Check the current opening hours.
Yes, you need to book a ticket with a start time in advance. This also applies if you have a Museum card, Rotterdam pass, or VriendenLoterij VIP Card. This way, you are guaranteed admission and we can ensure that your visit is as pleasant as possible. Book your start time.
Yes, with an online ticket, you can visit all the exhibitions that are on display on the date of your visit. You can also stay as long as you like. You are welcome at the Kunsthal from your designated start time until closing time. Book your start time.
In de Kunsthal Rotterdam zijn altijd meerdere wisselende en contrastrijke tentoonstellingen tegelijk te zien. Een volledig overzicht van alle actuele tentoonstellingen vind je op de tentoonstellingspagina.