Rivers & Lakes Prints (761)
Rivers and lakes are a recurring motif in Japanese woodblock printmaking, reflecting Japan's geography and the cultural significance of waterways as transportation routes, sources of livelihood, and subjects of poetic contemplation. From the broad Sumida River winding through Edo to mountain lakes reflecting volcanic peaks, water features anchor some of the tradition's most atmospheric compositions. Hiroshige's depictions of rivers were central to his landscape practice, appearing throughout the "Fifty-three Stations of the Tokaido" and dedicated series like "Famous Views of the Sixty-odd Provinces." His ability to render water in varied states — rushing rapids, still reflections, rain-dimpled surfaces — demonstrated the woodblock medium's range. The Sumida River alone appears in dozens of ukiyo-e masterworks, its bridges, boats, and seasonal character providing an inexhaustible subject. Shin-hanga artists brought new atmospheric sensitivity to water subjects. Kawase Hasui's lakeside scenes, particularly his views of Lake Kawaguchi with Mount Fuji reflected in still water, became defining images of the movement. Hiroshi Yoshida applied watercolor-like tonal subtlety to his river and lake scenes, while Tsuchiya Koitsu captured the interplay of artificial light and water surfaces in his evening views.
Artists Known for Rivers & Lakes
Untitled (ishiwata-koitsu)
Woodblock print
Untitled (kazuma-oda)
Woodblock print
Evensong
Color woodcut on Arches paper
Time and Tide (Quarter Moon)
Mokuhanga woodblock print on washi
Echoes from the Deep
Mokuhanga woodblock print on washi
Woven Water
Mokuhanga on washi
Sumida Park
1930
Color woodblock print
Canning River
Woodcut, edition of 30
Egret
1963
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Karuizawa Swamp - Impression B
Woodblock print
SUIMEN B (water surface B)
Woodblock print
Sunset Glow at Ishiyama
Woodblock print
Koume, from
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: The Nakasu Sandbar
Woodblock print
Chikubu Island
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: The Great Fire at Ryogoku from the Hamacho Riverbank
Woodblock print
ASA NO KAWA GOSHOKU
Woodblock print
Fleeting — うたかた
Woodblock print
Illustrations for Genji Monogatari (54)
Woodblock print
Fishing — Uo-tsuri
1897
Woodblock print
Hijiribashi
Woodblock print
True Pictures of Famous Places in Tokyo: Yaomatsu Restaurant, Koume
Woodblock print
Ohnuma Park, Komagadake
Woodblock print
Sentimental Notes on Water (Suiin Fu)
Woodblock print
Sendai Moat, Fukagawa, from
Woodblock print
Matsumoto
Woodblock print
Nakajima Park
Woodblock print
Ukimi-do
浮見堂
Woodblock print
Mahaze — マハゼ
Woodblock print
Ukifune
Woodblock print
Oonuma Koen kara Koma-ga-take
Woodblock print
Fishing
Woodblock print
Quai du Miroir
1919
Arashiyama — 嵐山
Not set
Woodblock print
Chapter 44 - Takekawa
Woodblock print
Quai St. Ann
1919
Yuruki Nagare Ni
Woodblock print
Durham, after Frank Brangwyn
Woodblock print
Travels with the Master: Lugano (Meishou To No Tabi: Lugano machi)
Woodblock print
Boatman song
Woodblock print
Herons
Woodblock print
Ugui — ウグヒ
Woodblock print
Chapter 51 - Ukifune
Woodblock print
Dorokyo Water Gauge
Woodblock print
Leningrad Unga
Woodblock print
Quai Poterie
1919
The Barge
1919
Ponte S. Paternina, Venice (no. 24)
1920s
Flowing Water
Woodblock print
Le Quai Vert
1919
Riddled Ripples - Gihon River
Color woodblock print (mokuhanga)
Barge Pool (Hashike damari)
Woodblock print
Oji-takinokawa
Woodblock print
Sumidagawa
Woodblock print
Sunset at the Columbia River by Eva Pietzcker - Davidson Galleries
Three Rocks (Alkali Lake) by Eva Pietzcker - Davidson Galleries
Tieton River by Eva Pietzcker - Davidson Galleries
The Lake in the Evening by Eva Pietzcker - Davidson Galleries
Winter Lake by Eva Pietzcker - Davidson Galleries
By the Lake (湖边)
湖边
1998
Multi-block woodcut print; water-soluble ink on paper
Related Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Rivers and lakes are a recurring motif in Japanese woodblock printmaking, reflecting Japan's geography and the cultural significance of waterways as transportation routes, sources of livelihood, and subjects of poetic contemplation. From the broad Sumida River winding through Edo to mountain lakes reflecting volcanic peaks, water features anchor some of the tradition's most atmospheric compositions.
Kawase Hasui, Hiroshi Yoshida, and Kobayashi Kiyochika are among the artists most associated with rivers & lakes in our collection. Browse the full list of artists who explored this subject above.
Hanga currently catalogues 761 prints tagged with rivers & lakes, spanning ukiyo-e, shin-hanga, and sōsaku-hanga traditions where applicable.