Masami Teraoka (寺岡政美) (artist 1936)
Sarah and Octopus / Seventh Heaven
2001
15.625" x 10.375" Japanese woodblock print
Signed in pencil, verso bottom right: ©
Masami Teraoka
Numbered in pencil, verso upper right: 200/200
Twenty-nine color woodcut made from hand-carved blocks of cherry wood printed on Hosho paper. Numbered edition of 200 plus proofs. Signed and numbered in pencil on verso. Carved and printed by Tadakatsu Takamizawa, Ukiyo-e Research Center, Tokyo, Japan. Published by Masami Teraoka.
The following is Courtesy of Catherine Clark Gallery:
The vertical title cartouche at upper right reads, "(Ōdako hana biraki (hiraki) sirīzu)" (Giant Octopus Flower Opening Series). This is a pun on showing a bare butt or blossoming flower. Shiri is a butt and izu is to expose, but when you put the two together it sounds like "series." This is a typical approach used by ukiyo-e artists who enjoyed titling their works and plays on words.
Takonosukehichi (the nickname Masami gave to the giant octopus. It loosely translates as "Octopus Pervert Seven." Again, coming up with a name based on the combination of characters for what is going on is a typical Edo-style approach.)
“She looks delicious, if I eat her as she is. Perhaps starting from here? Wow! Feels like slippery nuru nuru!!!!” If I eat her in the way she is (meaning the way she is lying down), she looks delicious. (I--the octopu--wonder) if this is the area (meaning clitoris)?
Sarah:
Omaesan sou sou aserazu, clitoris notokoroo yuttukuri tanoshimasete okure.
Hey, you. Don’t be too hasty but (please) slow down. You should let me enjoy pleasure of the clitoris abundantly.
Takonosukehichi:
“You mean this area, or much deeper inside here? How about here or there?!?!
Sarah:
“Your suction cups are not at all dependable, but wimps. Don’t hesitate to suck me!”
erotic prints (shunga - 春画) (genre)