1876 -1950 · Japan, United States, Europe and shin-hanga

Mountains, temples and landscapes of the world find in Hiroshi Yoshida a luminous synthesis between Western gaze, watercolor and virtuosity of Japanese wood engraving.

Hiroshi Yoshida was born in 1876 in Kurume, on the island of Kyushû. At a very young age, he was adopted by his art teacher Kasaburo Yoshida and received training in Western painting, yoga. He studied in Kyoto then Tokyo, worked in watercolor and developed careful observation of light and perspective. In 1899, he traveled to the United States with the artist Hachiro Nakagawa and organized an exhibition in Detroit which met with decisive success. Other stays in America and Europe expanded his repertoire to the Alps, cities and large landscapes. Yoshida first participated in the revival of Japanese watercolor before devoting himself fully to wood prints. In in the 1920s, he collaborated with the publisher Watanabe Shôzaburo, a figure of shin-hanga, a movement which renewed ukiyo-e through modern subjects, atmospheric light and a dialogue with Western painting. After the Kanto earthquake of 1923 and the loss of a large part of his work, Yoshida founded his own workshop in 1925. He drew, supervised engravers and printers, controlled the colors and affixed the jizuri mark to the proofs which he personally directed the production. Several printing passages produce mist, water, snow and time changes with extraordinary subtlety. The Grand Canyon belongs to the United States series published in 1925. The American motif is translated by Japanese wood: rock strata, purple shadows and monumental depth become a balance of colorful planes. This image summarizes an international trajectory that never dissolves the discipline of the workshop. A passionate mountaineer, Yoshida also founded an association of mountain artists and frequently represented the Japanese Alps. Travels in India and Southeast Asia further enriched his work. Travels in India and Southeast Asia further enriched his work. Travels in India and Southeast Asia further enriched his work. He died in 1950 and passed on his studio and a true artistic dynasty to his family. Died in 1950, he passed on his studio and a true artistic dynasty to his family. Died in 1950, he passed on his studio and a true artistic dynasty to his family. Died in 1950, he passed on his studio and a true artistic dynasty to his family. Died in 1950, he passed on his studio and a true artistic dynasty to his family. Died in 1950, he passed on his workshop and a true artistic dynasty to his family. Died in 1950, he passed on his workshop and a true artistic dynasty to his family. Died in 1950, he passed on his workshop and a true artistic dynasty to his family. Died

Yoshida takes wood engraving on a journey without making it lose its memory: the Grand Canyon, the Alps or the Taj Mahal become Japanese through cutting, inking and light.