15 wonderful Japanese landscape painting masterpieces that must be seen

Japanese art, especially landscape painting, has a rich history spanning centuries and encompasses a variety of styles and directions.

The landscape is called "sansui" in Japanese, san means "mountain" and sui "water", and many Japanese landscape paintings depict mountains and flowing water. In this way, the artist offers a unique perspective on the relationship between nature and Japanese aesthetics, making them excellent topics for an essay on Japanese landscape painting.

To represent a mix of traditional and modern styles of landscape painting in Japan, from monochrome ink paintings of the Muromachi period to colorful woodblock prints of the Edo period, to contemporary paintings, we curated this list of 15 influential works and artists representing the breadth of Japanese landscape painting.

Katsushika Hokusai (1760–1849) - Great Wave off Kanagawa:

Imagine taking a picture of a wave in the Pacific Ocean, and suddenly Mount Fuji enters your mythical image and spoils it. This woodblock print is not just a work of art; it is Mother Nature animates you with its most angry wave, all while Fuji poses in the background. It's like capturing the wildest wave of your life without leaving your living room.

Utagawa Hiroshige (1797–1858) - Fifty-three Tokaido stations:

The series, titled "Fifty-Three Stations of the Tokaido Road," gained much attention, and gave Ukiyo artist, Utagawa Hiroshige, a boost to popularity in the late Edo period. Here, in Lake Hakone's painting, Hiroshige's composition captures the beauty of the scenery, demonstrating not only its ability, but also its focus on landscape painting orientation. Perhaps the most striking thing about this painting is the vibrant colors that captivate the viewer's eye, as if we too were walking along the Tokaido Road and stopping to admire the landscape.

Sesho Toyo (1420–1506) - Winter landscape:

One of the most famous artists in Japanese art history is Sesho Toyo; he is known for his unique style of painting and his widespread influence as a Buddhist teacher and priest. Heavily influenced by Chinese art, the artist sought to connect the two cultures together in his work, while also instilling his Buddhist beliefs and aesthetics. The winter scene depicts a man ascending a three-dimensional but flat landscape, evoking feelings of solitude.

Hasegawa Tohako (1539–1610) - Pine trees:

Painted on washi paper, this folding barrier is part of the category of biobo (folding barriers), detailed artwork that adorns the room by dividing it with delicate but beautiful partitions. This scene has a cloudy aesthetic, probably due to the possibility that Tohako painted his hometown of Noto from memory.

Ogata Koren (1658–1716) – Susanat Yatsuhashi (eight bridges):

Born and raised in Kyoto, Koren became an official painter of the royal court in 1701, and painted these iris flowers immediately after receiving this honor. Corin's focus on iris flowers seems to carry many subtle meanings that stem from Japanese literature written more than 1,000 years ago, which tells of the noble class that places iris highly appreciated because of its purple color that can purify negative energies and protect the wearer.

Maruyama Ukyo (1733–1795) - Pine trees in the snow:

Pine trees are depicted as an evergreen tree, said to be an auspicious tree that symbolizes long life and good luck, and snow is a symbol of freshness. The golden clay background gives the effect of a bright and heavenly winter morning. The gold shows the dazzling shine reflected from the snow. There are no detailed drawings anywhere on the trunk or branches of pine trees. To express it graphically, he dared to draw trees without using elevation lines.

Yokoyama Taikan (1868–1958) - Mount Fuji:

Beautiful view of the summit of Mount Fuji rising above the clouds at sunrise, and a glowing red sun in the peach-colored sky. Pine trees dot the beach in the foreground, and waves roll along the beach at the bottom and right of the painting. A masterpiece by Yukoyama Taikan who had an influence on the Nihonga movement or Japanese-style paintings before World War II.

Tawara Sutatsu (circa 1570 - circa 1640) - waves in Matsushima:

"Waves in Matsushima" is a painting on a folding barrier consisting of one pair of 6 folding barriers. "Waves in Matsushima" is one of his six folding paintings.

Ike no Taiga (1723–1776) - Autumn Harvest Festival:

This pair of hurdles by Iki Taiga, one of Japan's most prominent intellectual painters, depicts two Chinese themes: the orchid pavilion gathering on the right screen, and on the left screen, the Autumn Harvest Festival.

Shibata Zishin (1807-1891) - Autumn Maple:

Zeshin, an expert in painting and painting, is distinguished by its intricate details and innovative use of materials to capture the essence of the seasons.

Kai Higashiyama (1908-1999) - Evening Glow:

Known for his tranquil landscapes, Higashima carries a deep spiritual resonance and deep connection to nature.

Kawasi Hasue (1883–1957) - Snowfall at Zugu Temple:

Zugu temple in the snow. A visitor carrying a yellow umbrella walks toward the entrance to the temple of Zugu, followed by a black dog. The panel shows the main gate, Sangidatsomun, which was built in 1622 and is therefore the oldest wooden building in Tokyo. This was the only original building that survived the destruction of World War II, and is now an important cultural property.

Sakai Huetsu (1761–1828) – Autumn Grasses in the Moonlight:

In Japan, staring at the moon and listening to the sounds of insects has long been quiet ways to spend an autumn evening. Seen from a low point, the full moon illuminates the invisible world in a tangle of autumn grasses, where different types of grasshoppers are highlighted with a shiny tint.

Fujishima Takeji (1867–1943) - Sunrise over the East Sea:

Influenced by Western painting styles, Fujishima's work represents a blend of Eastern and Western techniques, contributing to the modernization of Japanese landscape painting.

Tomioka Tesai (1837–1924) – Mount Fuji:

Tomioka Tesai was described as the last artist to paint bongenga (a painting influenced by traditional Chinese culture) and as one of the first artists to follow nihonga (Japanese-style painting). This artist left behind many masterpieces.

Fuji Mountain View ( 1837-1924 )

Fukuoka Tai Sai is described as the last artist who painted Japanese paintings, one of the first to seek after Japanese paintings, leaving many masterpieces.