Japanese Art Prints

While scholars debate the origin of the sacred mountain’s name “fuji”, one of the most commonly accepted is that the name sounds similar to “everla...

The swallow, associated with sailors, symbolises strong fighting spirit, success and also a safe return. It also represents love, care and affectio...

The egret is appreciated as an auspicious symbol in many cultures, representing independence, calm, grace and determination. In China, the egret sy...

Hasui Kawase was one of the most prolific and recognised artists of the Shin Hanga (New Print) movement. Depicted in the foreground is the evergree...

Temples and shrines often associated themselves with dragons. The mythical being has traditionally been celebrated for its benevolence, intelligenc...

The songbird is a protective spirit associated to poetry and music. The lotus flower is revered for its ability to rise from the murky waters to bl...

A view of the famous Drum bridge in the valley of the Meguro River. The bridge, particularly as it is a bridge over water, represents crossing over...

The long life of the wisteria flower bestows the symbolic meaning of immortality and longevity. In particular, the blue and purple wisteria represe...

Trained in Western art, Hiroshi Yoshida often blends western styles with traditional Japanese techniques. This print shows his exceptional skill of...

Elephants symbolise strength and power of the body and spirit, whilst also representing wisdom, loyalty, stability and determination. As they are n...

Lying between the Japanese main islands of Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu, the Seto Inland Sea is famous for its coastal scenery and fishing villages. ...

There are numerous editions of the iconic Great Wave. From the British Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, Art Institute of Chicag...

The Japanese name for owl, Fukuro, usually is written with one single character, but can also be written with the combination of the character for ...

The blooming of cherry blossoms, is a symbol of purity. Their spectacular bloom is enjoyed by many, but for a short period of time every year, remi...

In the Japanese system of Hana-kotoba (flower meanings), the magnolia flower means the sublime, and love of nature, reinvigorating energy and life.

The five levels of the Japanese pagoda stand for each of the five elements according to Buddhist thought: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Void. By Tsu...

The java finch symbolises exuberance and an energetic zest for life, reminding us to appreciate and treasure each moment. The java finch was a popu...

The ocean being a symbol of power, strength, life and mystery, it has been depicted as a popular symbol in Japanese art. Design by the Japanese art...

This image is recognised as one of Koson’s masterpieces. The bridge, particularly a bridge over water, represents crossing over from the profane to...

Japanese maple trees have been considered a symbol of grace. Associated with peace and serenity of the world’s elements, Japanese maple trees repre...

Symbolising invincibility, power and might, the tiger is a highly potent symbol used across many cultures in Asia. Traditionally regarded in Japan ...

The artist Koson Ohara was a Japanese painter and printmaker in the late 19th and early 20th century. With some 500 works to his name, he was the m...

One of the greatest masterpieces in Japanese art by the landscape master Hiroshige (1797-1858). Vincent Van Gogh created an oil painting replica of...

Back in 1715, the Tsugaru clan brought cherry trees from Kyoto and planted them in the grounds of Hirosaki Castle, Aomori Prefecture. Near the end ...

The egret is appreciated as an auspicious symbol in many cultures. In China, the egret symbolises strength, purity, patience and long life.

A female beauty portrait by one of the most highly revered woodblock print master of female portraits, Utamaro (c.1753 - 1806). He was one of the ...

Kiyomizu Temple was built in 1798 without a single nail and still stands today. The Japanese expression “to jump off the stage at Kiyomizu” is the ...

Kobayashi is known for his prints depicting romantic nights and evening scenes, and stand as great examples of Japanese woodblock prints of this er...

While scholars debate the origin of “fuji”, the sacred mountain’s name, one of the most commonly used means “everlasting life.” This image is from ...

The name nandina (also known as heavenly bamboo or sacred bamboo in Japan and China) with sprays of bright red berries, is used for celebrations an...

A waterfall in Mino province by Hokusai. The drops of water which make up a waterfall are renewed each second, yet persist as an entity. It reminds...

One of the most commonly accepted origin of the name “fuji”, is that the name sounds similar to “everlasting life.” The boat signifies the ability ...

Portrait of samurai Kobayashi Heihachiro fending off the attacks of the Ronin samurai.

The goldfish has also come to symbolise wealth in Chinese culture stemming from the fact that the Chinese word for fish (yú) is pronounced very sim...

The artist Koson Ohara was a Japanese painter and printmaker in the late 19th and early 20th century. With some 500 works to his name, he was the m...

Expressive of enduring happiness, the plum blossom has traditionally been used as a decorative symbol of congratulatory occasions and good luck, re...