Trees Prints (520)
Trees are a fundamental compositional element and independent subject in Japanese woodblock printmaking, appearing as framing devices, atmospheric indicators, and primary subjects that showcase the medium's ability to render organic form through carved wood. The woodblock technique has a natural affinity for depicting trees — the carved lines of the block echo the texture of bark and branch, creating a material sympathy between medium and subject. Pine trees (matsu) hold particular cultural significance in Japanese art, symbolizing longevity, resilience, and the endurance of virtue. Prints featuring wind-bent pines along coastlines, ancient pines in temple gardens, and the famous pine groves of Miho and Karasaki recur throughout the tradition. Cherry trees in blossom (sakura) are equally iconic, their brief flowering season providing a powerful metaphor for the transience celebrated in Japanese aesthetics. Other tree subjects — weeping willows along canals, cryptomeria avenues leading to shrines, autumn maples (momiji) blazing with color — serve as seasonal markers and atmospheric elements that anchor landscape compositions in specific times and places. Shin-hanga artists like Hasui and Yoshida paid particular attention to trees as compositional elements, using them to frame distant views, create depth, and establish the atmospheric mood that distinguishes their landscape prints from earlier ukiyo-e conventions.
Artists Known for Trees
Castle and Cherry Tree
Woodblock print
Yanagi Willow on the Bank of the Misa River
Woodblock print
Yanagi Willow on the Bank of the Misogi River at Nanao
Woodblock print
Cryptomeria and Hut in Rain
20th century
Woodblock print; ink and color on paper
Blue Tree (5)
Woodblock print
Bamboo in Summer
Woodblock print
Cherry Tree in Autumn Colors at Joshoko Temple
桜紅葉 常照皇寺
1967
Color woodblock print
One tree (2) green
Woodblock print
One Tree (2) White
Woodblock print
One Tree (3) Pale Blue
Woodblock print
One Tree (3) Pink
Woodblock print
One Tree (green)
Woodblock print
One Tree Red
Woodblock print
Red Trees (5)
Woodblock print
Pine Trees at Ogo Village, Northern Shinshu
北信州 小郷村の松
1950
Color woodblock print
White Tree (2)
Woodblock print
White trees (3)
Woodblock print
Tree in the Four Seasons
Woodblock print
Trees in a Field
Woodblock print
Woman in a Tree Grove - 木立の女
1910
Woodblock print
Woman Standing Before a Blossoming Peach Tree, Taishô period, dated 1918
Taishô period, 1912-1926
Woodblock print
Asa no ki (Morning Tree)
Woodblock print
Evening Tree — 夕の木
Woodblock print
Great Tree in Early Spring
Woodblock print
Tree of Stars
Woodblock print
Unknown, leafless tree 2
Woodblock print
White Trees
Woodblock print
Unknown A Seated Girl Under a Tree with Fruit
Woodblock print
Bamboo Flute
Woodblock print
Trees
Woodblock print
The Willow Tree at the Gate of Shimabara Pleasure Quarter (Shimabara deguchi no yanagi), from the series “Famous Views of Kyoto (Kyoto meisho no uchi)"
c. 1834
Color woodblock print; oban
Nadina Tree
Woodblock print
Sparrows and Bamboo
Woodblock print
Bird in Tree
Woodblock print
Sparrows and Bamboo
Woodblock print
Sparrows and Bamboo in Snow
Woodblock print
Two Gulls and Cherry Tree
Woodblock print
Woman near the Cherry Tree in a Full moon
Woodblock print
Cryptomeria Avenue
1937
Color woodblock print
Bamboo (right)
1960
Woodblock print
Hanzakari - Avenue of Cherry Trees in Full Bloom, from the series "Eight Scenes of Cherry Trees"
1935
Color woodblock print
Cherry tree at night
Not set
Woodblock print
Cryptomerias Trees in Nikko — 日光杉並木
Not set
Woodblock print
The Cherry Tree in Kawagoe
1935
Color woodblock print
Uji River flowing past Willow Trees
Not set
Woodblock print
Aoyagi (Green Willow)
1908
Color woodcut
Bamboo Road
1912
Color woodcut
Black Cat In Green And Yellow Tree
Woodblock print
Unknown- traditional Japanese houses amid autumn trees
Woodblock print
Funaoka (Pine Tree), Shôwa period, dated 1964
Woodblock print
Bamboo sprout
1969
Etching and aquatint, ink on paper
Big Tree No. 1
1981
Etching
House with Big Tree (2)
Woodblock print
Persimmon Tree
1978
Color woodblock print
Roof and Tree, Shôwa period,
Woodblock print
Tree
1968
Etching and aquatint, ink on paper
Winter Tree
1967
Etching, ink on paper
Winter Tree, Shôwa period, dated 1967
Woodblock print
Bijin and Plum Tree — 梅樹美人之図
Woodblock print
Mitate No.59 - Tree Trunk (Oo-kusu)
2002
Related Subjects
Frequently Asked Questions
Trees are a fundamental compositional element and independent subject in Japanese woodblock printmaking, appearing as framing devices, atmospheric indicators, and primary subjects that showcase the medium's ability to render organic form through carved wood. The woodblock technique has a natural affinity for depicting trees — the carved lines of the block echo the texture of bark and branch, creating a material sympathy between medium and subject.
Kotozuka Eiichi, Fumio Kitaoka, and Joichi Hoshi are among the artists most associated with trees in our collection. Browse the full list of artists who explored this subject above.
Hanga currently catalogues 520 prints tagged with trees, spanning ukiyo-e, shin-hanga, and sōsaku-hanga traditions where applicable.