Bokashi Prints (409)
Bokashi (ぼかし) — the graduated color printing technique that is a hallmark of Japanese woodblock printmaking. Achieved by wiping ink across the block in a gradient before printing, bokashi creates atmospheric skies, misty backgrounds, and luminous color transitions.
Artists Known for Bokashi
Amanohashidate in Snow (Yuki no Hashidate), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Early Spring at Yoshida
1938
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
A View of Mt. Fuji
Woodblock print
A Nocturnal Fuji, Lake Ashino (Ashino no yu Fuji)
Ashino no yu Fuji
1935
Color woodblock print
Autumn at Fukuroda Falls, Ibaraki Prefecture (Fukuroda-no-taki no aki (Ibaraki ken)
Fukuroda-no-taki no aki (Ibaraki ken
1954
Color woodblock print
Autumn in Funatsu (Funatsu no aki)
Funatsu no aki
1953
Color woodblock print
Chongseokjeong, from the series "Eight Views of Korea" (Chosen hakkei, Sosekitei)
October 1939
Color woodblock print
Komagata Embankment (Komagatagashi), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"
Komagatagashi
1919
Color woodblock print; oban
Snow at Hie Shrine (Shato no yuki (Hie jinja))
Shato no yuki (Hie jinja
1931
Color woodblock print; oban
![Snow on a Fine Day at Miyajima (Seiten no yuki [Miyajima]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui](https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/528ee6ba-453a-0502-d9f7-6f5364378a11/full/843,/0/default.jpg)
Snow on a Fine Day at Miyajima (Seiten no yuki [Miyajima]), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
Seiten no yuki [Miyajima]
1921
Color woodblock print; oban
Spring Rain at the Gokoku Temple (Harusame (Gokokuji))
Harusame (Gokokuji
April 1932
Color woodblock print
Suhara, Kiso, from the series "Selection of Views of Japan (Nihon fukei senshu)"
1925
Color woodblock print; oban
Tenno Temple, Osaka (Osaka Tennōji), from the series Souvenirs of Travel, Third Series (Tabi miyage dai sanshu)
Osaka Tennōji
1927
Color woodblock print
The Pond at Benten Shrine in Shiba (Shiba Benten ike)
Shiba Benten ike
1929
Color woodblock print; oban
The Shinagawa Offing (Shinagawa oki), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"
Shinagawa oki
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Scops Owl in Flight, Cherry Blossoms and Full Moon
Shōwa period, 1926
Woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper
Fuji From Mizukubo, Evening Scene
Woodblock print
Autumn at Oirase
June 1933
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Early Autumn in Itako (Itako no hatsuaki)
n.d. [1942]
Color woodblock print
Early Autumn in Urayasu (Hatsuaki no Urayasu)
October 1931
Color woodblock print
Evening Snow at Terajima Village (Yuki ni fururu Terajima mura), from the series "Twelve Scenes of Tokyo (Tokyo junidai)"
1920
Color woodblock print
Full Moon over Matsuyama Castle (Matsuyamajo meigetsu)
December 1953
Color woodblock print
Genzo Temple, Miyazaki, Saitama Prefecture (Miyazaki Genzoji (Saitama ken))
July 1955
Color woodblock print
Phoenix Hall, Byodo Temple, Udi, from the series "Collection of Scenic Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition" (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen, Uji Byodoin Hoodo)
September 1933
Color woodblock print
Shin Bridge, Nikko (Nikko Shinkyo)
December 1953
Color woodblock print
Spring Evening at the Otemon Gate (Otemon no haru no yugure)
1952
Color woodblock print; oban
Tagonoura Bridge (Tagonourabashi)
1930
Color woodblock print
The Asano River in Kanazawa (Kanazawa Asanogawa), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Tonashi Gate, Matsuyama Castle, from the series "Collection of Scenic Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition" (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen, Matsuyamajo Tonashimon)
February 1935
Color woodblock print
![Winter Moon at Toyamagahara (Fuyu no tsuki [Toyamagahara]) by Kawase Hasui](https://www.artic.edu/iiif/2/a951222f-c337-783a-b7eb-ee91aaa1eb4a/full/843,/0/default.jpg)
Winter Moon at Toyamagahara (Fuyu no tsuki [Toyamagahara])
1931
Color woodblock print; oban
After Rain
1938
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
After the Snow Falls
1921
Color woodblock print
After the Snow (Yuki no ato)
Woodblock print
Autumn Full Moon
Woodblock print
Awazu, from the series "Eight Views of Omi (Omi hakkei)"
1917
Color woodblock print
Drizzling Rain (Shigure)
Woodblock print
Early Spring — 昭和美人風俗 浅春
Woodblock print
Hazy moon
Woodblock print
Hira, from the series "Eight Views of Omi (Omi hakkei)"
1917
Color woodblock print
Hotspring fragrance
Woodblock print
In Spring
1912
Color woodblock print
Ishiyama Temple (Ishiyamadera), from the series "Eight Views of Omi (Omi hakkei)"
1912
Color woodblock print
Kara Bridge at Seta (Seta no Karahashi), from the series "Eight Views of Omi (Omi hakkei)"
1917
Color woodblock print
Mii Temple (Miidera), from the series “Eight Views of Omi (Omi hakkei) "
1912
Color woodblock print
Night Rain at Mii Temple, from the series "Eight Views of Ohmi"
1917
Color woodblock print
Pine Tree at Karasaki (Karasaki no matsu), from the series “Eight Views of Omi (Omi hakkei) “
1913
Color woodblock print
Pine Tree at Karasaki (Karasaki no matsu), from the series "Eight Views of Omi (Omi hakkei)"
1918
Color woodblock print
Snow — 雪
Woodblock print
Snowstorm
c.1940
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Spring — 春
Woodblock print
C7- Moonrise at Tokumochi
Woodblock print
C9- Night scene of Mabashi, near Tokyo
Woodblock print
Yabase, from the series "Eight Views of Omi (Omi hakkei)"
1912
Color woodblock print
Yakase Bridge, from the series Eight Views of Lake Biwa (ōmi hakkei)
1917
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
A pair of Flying Ducks and Moon
before 1912
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Crows in moonlight
1927
Color woodblock print; oban
Ducks Swimming under Lakeside Reeds
Shōwa period, dated to 1931
Woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper, with printed signature reading "Shōson"
Egrets and Crescent Moon
1926
Color woodblock print; oban
Flying Geese and Moon
before 1912
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Fox by the Moonlit Water
c. 1928–1930
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Related Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Bokashi (ぼかし) — the graduated color printing technique that is a hallmark of Japanese woodblock printmaking. Achieved by wiping ink across the block in a gradient before printing, bokashi creates atmospheric skies, misty backgrounds, and luminous color transitions.
Kawase Hasui, Takahashi Shotei, and Tsuchiya Koitsu are among the artists most associated with bokashi in our collection. Browse the full list of artists who explored this subject above.
Hanga currently catalogues 409 prints tagged with bokashi, spanning ukiyo-e, shin-hanga, and sōsaku-hanga traditions where applicable.