Originally published in 1975 by lesbian activist and artist Tee A. Corinne, the Cunt Coloring Book was originally intended as a sex education resource. Of course, the parade of vulvas doesn’t always inform so much as affect the viewer (especially as the depictions become increasingly stylized throughout the book), but the project is a classic example of feminist/queer art, representative of the more experimental second-wave of sapphic activism. What’s more, Corinne intended to create something interactive for both children and adults:
’In 1973 I set out to do drawings of women’s genitals for use in sex education groups. I wanted the drawings to be lovely and informative, to give pleasure and affirmation. I organized the drawings into a coloring book because a major way we learn to understand the world, as children, is by coloring. As adults many of us still need to learn about our external sexual anatomy.
But what about the “C-word” title? Wasn’t that an impediment to sales, or were the 70s really that much more open of an era? Corinne explained:
The Cunt Coloring Book, published in 1975, was immediately and wildly popular, although many people complained about the “awful” title. Three printings later, in 1981, the title was changed to Labiaflowers and the book virtually died. So much for euphemisms.
Okay, starting out pretty anatomical here—no big surpise.
And now we’re into more of a comic book-style abstractions—a bit grotesque, in my opinion. This isn’t the first time you’ll see a hand in the picture
This one’s kind of pretty—I’d totally put this on my wall. Art Nouvulva?
Ralph Steadman nightmare minge
And of course, someone has made a YouTube video of their own Cunt Coloring Book! Because what’s the use of vaginal art if you can’t share it?