On 8th July, Dreweatts Auctioneers will present Japanese Prints: Art of the Woodblock, a sale of masterpieces by the ukiyo-e virtuosos of the Edo period. Ukiyo-e, meaning ‘pictures of the floating world’, is a genre that saw artists depict female beauties, sumo wrestlers, folk tale scenes, landscapes, erotica, and flora/fauna by means of ten or more woodblocks, which were inked and pressed onto handmade paper. The genre was central to forming the West’s perception of Japanese art in the late 19th century, and from the 1870s onward became a strong influence on the likes of Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, and Vincent van Gogh.
Highlights from the Dreweatts sale include editions of:
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) | The Genius Behind the Great Wave
"Under the Wave off Kanagawa (The Great Wave)" – Arguably the most famous Japanese print in the world, this image of a towering wave and Mount Fuji is an iconic masterpiece of ukiyo-e that transcends time and culture. From his celebrated series Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, this dynamic woodblock print captures the raw power of nature, a towering, claw-like wave frozen in motion, dwarfing fishing boats beneath its curl while the distant Mount Fuji stands serene in the background. More than just a stunning seascape, The Great Wave symbolizes the delicate balance between human struggle and the sublime force of the natural world. Its bold composition and vivid indigo hues have influenced artists from Van Gogh to contemporary designers, making it not just a cornerstone of Japanese art, but a global cultural treasure.
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797-1858) | Master of Landscapes & Seasons
Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) was a master of ukiyo-e woodblock prints, renowned for his breathtaking landscapes and poetic depictions of Edo-period Japan. His most famous series, such as The Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido and One Hundred Famous Views of Edo, captured the beauty of nature, the changing seasons, and the quiet drama of everyday life with unparalleled elegance.
Works like Sudden Shower Over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake (Lot 24) and Plum Estate, Kameido (Lot 27), showcase his genius for composition, atmosphere, and delicate colour harmonies, influencing Western Impressionists like Monet and Van Gogh. Van Gogh made two oil on canvas paintings based on Plum Estate and Sudden Shower. Hiroshige’s art does not just portray scenery - it evokes emotion, transporting viewers to misty roads, snowy villages, and moonlit rivers, making him one of Japan’s most beloved artists. His prints remain timeless, celebrated for their serene beauty and masterful storytelling.
'Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake'
As black clouds release a heavy downpour of summer rain, pedestrians crossing the bridge scurry off for shelter, huddling under straw capes, hats, or parasols. In the river below, a lone boatman steers his raft of logs before the Shogunal storehouses at Atake. The Ohashi - or Great Bridge - crossed the Sumida River that flowed through the heart of the capital of Edo. Sudden Shower over Shin-Ohashi Bridge and Atake is universally considered as the masterpiece from the artist's series One Hundred Famous Views of Edo.
'Awa Province: Naruto Whirlpools (Awa, Naruto no fuha)'
The whirlpools of the narrow Naruto strait swirl violently among tall rockwork out at sea. A large wave with claw-like spume threatens to crash down from the upper left of the composition. Hiroshige suspends this moment of action in what could be described akin to the mie pose struck during scenes of heightened tension in kabuki theatre. The extensive and numerous instances of bokashi (gradation) on the waves, rocky outcrops, and distant mountains, signify that this is an early impression.
Kawase Hasui (1883-1957) | Poetry of Architecture
Kawase Hasui is regarded by many as one of the greatest landscape artists of the early 20th century, but many of his most unforgettable images feature beautifully detailed depictions of buildings, and a poetically placed, lone figure that conjures up a nostalgia for a Japan that was all too quickly disappearing.
Lugano (Rugano machi) by Yoshida Hiroshi
From deep orange to pale rose, the red-tiled roofs of Lugano seemingly modulate in the light of the sun. The tall white plaster facades contrast brilliantly with the deep blue of Lake Lugano. An extremely laborious and costly forty-one colour impressions were used for the execution of this print. Unlike other shin-hanga artists who worked in the traditional hanmoto system dividing labour between the artist, block-cutter, printer and publisher, Yoshida was greatly involved with the printing process and stamped his prints with his own 'jixuri' or 'self-printed' seal. Through innovative techniques, such as mixing ink with unusual pigment types, as well as a grey colour block (nezumi-ban) to better render shadow, Yoshida’s designs have a greater breadth of palette and the overall effect is more painterly.
Yoshida travelled to Europe in 1924 for several months where he made numerous sketches and watercolour studies. The prints from his European series were based on these preliminary works.
Fireworks (Hanubi) by Ito Shinsui
An elegant young woman sits on a bamboo bench gazing at a summer firework display. She wears a summer kimono of striped blue and white interspersed with bands of hanabishi. Her obi sash is embroidered with stylised morning glories and ivy. On her lap rests a fan decorated with swirling waters.
Auction Details
Auction:
Tuesday 8 July 2025, 1pm BST I Dreweatts, 16-17 Pall Mall, St James's, London SW1Y 5LU
Bidding is available in person at salerooms, online, by telephone or you can leave commission (absentee) bids.
Viewing:
Dreweatts, 16-17 Pall Mall, St James’s, London SW1Y 5LU
Thursday 3 July: 10am - 4pm I Friday 4 July: 10am - 4pm I Monday 7 July:10am - 4pm
Images Supplied by Dreweatts