NEW YORK, NY.- Ronin Gallery opens Landscape Masters: Hokusai, Hiroshige, Hasui & Yoshida, an exhibition celebrating Japan’s most iconic interpreters of the natural world. Bringing together masterworks of both ukiyo-e and Shin Hanga, the exhibition traces more than a century of artistic innovation—from the bold vistas of the Edo period to the atmospheric modern landscapes of the early 20th century. The exhibition will be on view through April 30.

Featuring standout works by Hokusai Katsushika, Hiroshige Utagawa, Hasui Kawase, and Hiroshi Yoshida, the show invites visitors on a journey through Japan’s seasons and scenery. From mist-laden harbors and snow-capped mountain passes to luminous evenings and bustling city streets, these prints reveal the enduring allure of the Japanese landscape.

As travel restrictions eased in the 19th century, a new wanderlust swept through Edo. The merchant class embraced the freedom to explore, and woodblock artists responded with meisho-e—“pictures of famous places.” Rather than idealized visions, these images offered recognizable landscapes that allowed viewers to revisit memories or dream of future journeys. Hokusai and Hiroshige defined the form, combining human presence with nature’s vastness in compositions that later captivated Western artists such as Monet, Whistler, and Van Gogh.

The Meiji Restoration ushered in photography, lithography, and sweeping modernization, challenging the future of woodblock printing. Yet by the early 20th century, a powerful revival emerged. Artists like Hasui and Yoshida fused Western Impressionist influence with traditional carving and printing techniques, creating Shin Hanga—a modern reinvention of the Japanese woodblock print. Their work introduced nuanced light, shifting weather, and a heightened realism while remaining deeply connected to ukiyo-e’s lineage.

Though separated by a century, all four masters share an abiding love for Japan’s natural world. Highlights of the exhibition include selections from Hokusai’s Thirty-Six Views of Mount Fuji, Hiroshige’s One Hundred Views of Edo, rare pre-earthquake editions by Hasui, and Yoshida’s luminous explorations of time and space—each offering a distinct perspective on place, season, and the passage of time. Together, these works stand as a testament to the universal appeal of the Japanese landscape and the enduring power of the woodblock print.