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
Nocturene - The Sumida River (One Hundred Views of Tokyo, Message to the 21st Century)
1999
Flying Feather over Lake Mountain No. 9 (Hane tobu koyama No. 9)
Color woodblock print
Lake and Mountain (Nipponbashi Shishi no Zo) (One Hundred Views of Tokyo, Message to the 21st Century)
1999
Woodblock print
Nachi Falls
2019
Woodblock on washi paper
Nachi Waterfall
2019
Woodblock
Hazy Evening On The Shore of Shinobazu Pond
1932
Woodblock Print
River
2021
Woodblock
Diary of Dreams: Pool
2020
Gesso, oil, silver foil, paper on wooden panel
The Falls
2023
Collage
Dragonfly Pond
2015
Color woodcut
Edge of the Pond
2000
Color woodcut/lithograph
Yoshino River
2023
Kappazuri stencil
: Surface is the Between – Between Vertical and the Horizon – Paper Between a Stone and Brook
1983
Lithograph on Fabriano paper, screen print, printed both sides with Chine-collé
Inlet
2011
Woodcut, mokubanga woodblock, watercolor, wax
Views of Osaka: Kyomachi Canal
1919
Lithograph
Blue Pond
2016
Crossing Ansong River at the Battle of Asan
1894
Woodblock Print
Sumida River by Night
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Torpedo Fireworks at Nakasu on Sumida River
1881
N/A
The Lotus Pond #1
2013
Chinese brush painting
Fishing Village in Lake Tai
2011
Chinese brush painting
Village by the Stream
2014
Chinese brush painting
Nana Shiomi The Sound of Waterfall, Jumper
Woodcut (in the ukiyo-e tradition)
The Sound of Waterfall, Thinker
2015
Woodcut (in the ukiyo-e tradition)
Water stream and Chrysanthemum
2018
Ink on Paper
Stream
1986
Intaglio Print
Rainy Evening at Shinobazu Pond
1952
Woodblock print
北京(密雲湖) Beijing (Lake Miyun)
1992
C-print
Mountain Stream (Rabbit)
2017
Newspaper, Ink Stick, Acrylic Paint
Seeing the Waterfall of Mount Lu
2017
Newspaper, Gesso, Ink Stick, Acrylic Paint, Spray Paint
Water's Edge
2017
Woodcut
MORI NO OGAWA (brook in the forest)
Woodblock print
Autumn Stream (Aki no mizu), Shôwa period, 1963
Woodblock print
Pond
Woodblock print
Pond
Woodblock print
Morning at Tsutanuma Pond — Tsutanuma no asa
Woodblock print
Nara Sarusawa Pond
Woodblock print
Restaurant at the edge of Matsu Pond — 松の池畔の料亭
Woodblock print
Saursawa Pond in Nara
Woodblock print
Shiba Benten Pond
Woodblock print
Shinobazu Pond
Woodblock print
Taisho Pond, Kamikochi Tableland — 上高地渓谷
Woodblock print
Tsutanuma Pond in Mutsu
Woodblock print
Stream
2024
Woodcut
Lake Michigan Moment
Shakujii Sanpo-ike (Three Treasures Pond at Shakujii) / Ichimoku-shu (First Thursday Collection, Vol 4)
Woodblock print
Sato-Umi Gengoro Funa Monogatari (Lake Biwa)
里海ゲンゴロウ鮒物語（琵琶湖）
2021
Lithograph on aluminum plate
In The Pond Diptych (10/50)
Woodblock print
Rainy Pond
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Lake side in Snow (Mt.Bandai)
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Mountain Stream Oirase
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Ohtsu- Winter River
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
River Memory 159
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Kamogawa river in Kyoto
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Snow at a stream
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Fishing Pond
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Morning Fuji from Lake Kawaguchi
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Sumidagawa river
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Sumida River
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
Shirahige Shrine by lake Biwa
Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)
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.