Japanese Print Reproductions

Explore a selection of Japanese print reproductions devoted to the major themes of ukiyo-e: landscapes, views of Mount Fuji, waterfalls, kabuki actors, portraits of women, legendary heroes and scenes from everyday life. The collection includes works by Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Kuniyoshi, Kitagawa Utamaro, Suzuki Harunobu and Tōshūsai Sharaku.

Each product page lets you choose the dimensions and, depending on the artwork, the available format. To browse the collection, start with an artist, a subject or a mood: the graphic power of a wave, the tranquillity of a landscape, the intensity of an actor or the delicacy of an interior scene.

What is a Japanese ukiyo-e print?

Ukiyo-e, often translated as “pictures of the floating world”, developed in Edo during the Tokugawa period. The prints were the result of a collaborative process involving a designer, carver, printer and publisher. Their subject matter was not limited to landscapes: it also included actors, women, literary tales, heroes, everyday activities and urban scenes.

Colour woodblock printing relied on several blocks and successive printing passes. The crisp outlines, areas of flat colour, bold framing and asymmetrical compositions partly explain the visual power of these images, which are as compelling up close as they are from a distance.

Hokusai: waves, Mount Fuji and Japan’s roads

Katsushika Hokusai explored the movement of water, changing atmospheric conditions and the presence of Mount Fuji in everyday life. The Great Wave off Kanagawa sets the surge of the sea against the distant stability of the volcano, while South Wind, Clear Sky gives Fuji a monumental presence.

His travel views develop different rhythms: Tago Bay near Ejiri, the Inume Pass in Kai Province, the Brocade Bridge in Suō Province and Enoshima in Sagami Province combine terrain, architecture and human figures.

Waterfalls and the energy of water in Hokusai’s work

Waterfalls allowed Hokusai to transform water into lines, sheets and contrasts. Compare the Kirifuri Falls at Mount Kurokami, the Ono Falls on the Kisokaidō Road and the more urban scene of the Waterwheel at Onden. The View Beneath Mannen Bridge at Fukagawa plays instead with the bridge’s arch and the depth of the landscape.

Kuniyoshi: heroes, tales and spectacular compositions

Utagawa Kuniyoshi is particularly associated with warriors, popular tales and narrative images. Kinhyōshi Yōrin, Hero of the Suikoden and Miyamoto Musashi emphasise the tension of the gesture and the character’s identity. Clearing Weather After the Storm for Takechi combines narrative with a shift in atmosphere.

His work also includes quieter or unexpected subjects: Landscapes and beauties, feeling like reading the next volume, Woman at a table, white cat leaping at a butterfly and Ōmori, a famous place in the Eastern Capital showcase the diversity of his visual language.

Utamaro: portraits, gestures and the elegance of everyday life

Kitagawa Utamaro is renowned for his female figures, their poses and the details of everyday life. Expressions and gestures structure Maternal Love of Sankatsu and Hanshichi, Kami-yui — Hairdressing and Hata-ori — Weaving on a Loom.

For a group composition, discover Women of Yoshiwara Looking at the Street in Spring or The Elegant Pleasures of the Four Seasons. Act VII of The Treasury of Loyal Retainers connects the portrait with a theatrical narrative well known to audiences of the period.

Harunobu: poetry, seasons and intimate scenes

Suzuki Harunobu’s compositions stand out for their balance, slender silhouettes and poetic atmosphere. Bush Clover brings figure and botanical motif together; Young Woman Looking at a Pot of Carnations builds a scene around observation. Woman and Servant and A Girl Dressing in Pink focus on the intimacy of the gesture.

Sharaku and the Faces of Kabuki Theatre

Tōshūsai Sharaku focuses attention on actors, their roles and their stage presence. The portraits emphasise poses, gazes and expressions rather than idealising the performers. Compare Matsumoto Yonesaburō in the Role of Shinobu, Iwai Hanshirō IV, Sawamura Sōjūrō and Segawa Kikunojō and Ichikawa Ebizō in the Role of Takemura Sadanoshin.

Choosing a Japanese Print by Subject

• Landscape and nature: choose Hokusai for views of Fuji, roads, bridges and waterfalls.
• Story and movement: explore Kuniyoshi for heroes, warriors and legendary episodes.
• Portraits and everyday life: Utamaro and Harunobu offer more intimate scenes centred on poses and gestures.
• Theatre: Sharaku is ideal for interiors seeking an expressive face and a direct composition.

A highly contrasted work can become the focal point of a wall, while a scene in softer tones fits easily into a composition of several frames. Check the proportions of the image and the dimensions offered on the product page before making your choice.

How can you incorporate a Japanese woodblock print reproduction?

In a living room or hallway, a large composition creates an immediate visual focal point. In an office or bedroom, landscapes, reading scenes and botanical motifs bring a calmer rhythm. For a gallery wall, pair works that share an artist, palette or theme, while varying the formats.

The availability of paper, canvas and framing depends on the product and selected format. The options actually offered are displayed on each product page; checking them prevents you from generalising a configuration that is not available for every work.

Frequently asked questions about Japanese woodblock prints

Does ukiyo-e mean only “Japanese landscape”?

No. Landscapes are famous, but ukiyo-e also covers actors, beauties, literature, heroes, everyday activities and urban life.

What is the difference between an original print and a reproduction?

An original print is an impression made from the engraved blocks in the context of its publication. A reproduction is a modern print of the image: it allows you to appreciate the composition without being presented as an antique impression.

How do you choose between Hokusai, Kuniyoshi, Utamaro, Harunobu and Sharaku?

Choose Hokusai for landscapes, Kuniyoshi for heroic tales, Utamaro or Harunobu for figure scenes, and Sharaku for actor portraits. The subject and strength of the contrasts are better guides than the name’s fame alone.

Can Japanese titles have several translations?

Yes. Transliteration and English translations vary between catalogues, particularly for places, theatrical roles and series. The product page retains the title used in the Artem Legrand catalogue.

Are all works available in the same formats?

No. The available formats, substrates and framing options may vary depending on the work. Select the options available on the product page to see the corresponding configuration.

Browse the Japanese woodblock print collection

Start with an iconic motif, then explore the artists and series connected to it. This approach takes you from a familiar image to less familiar works while maintaining a coherent visual thread: the sea and Mount Fuji in Hokusai, storytelling in Kuniyoshi, portraiture in Utamaro and Harunobu, or theatre in Sharaku.