Hiroshi Yoshida was a Japanese artist who was born in 1876 and died in 1950.  Deemed a leader in the resurrection of Japanese printmaking after the Meiji period, you would see a blend of artists in this renewal known as Shin Hanga, which are new Japan or modern prints and Sosaku Hanga, which means creative prints or movement. 

Hiroshi Yoshida was born to a school principal teaching at an elementary institution.  It was easy to see that Hiroshi Yoshida was extremely talented at a very young age.  By the age of 18, he was allowed to study in a Tokyo private school.  At first, Hiroshi Yoshida worked as a painter.  This artist won a number of prizes for his exhibitions but not until 1920 was he working to create woodblock prints.  Around that time, he was introduced to Watanabe Shozaburo who owned a print store in Tokyo.  Along with several unknown but willful artists, Hiroshi Yoshida began painting woodblock prints with Watanabe publishing the first ever made. 

Many think of Hiroshi Yoshida s being associated with the Shin Hanga movement although he stayed true to many of his own ambitions.  Sadly, one of the world’s worst earthquakes demolished much of Tokyo in 1923 to include Watanabe’s shop and all the prints within it.  In 1925, Hiroshi Yoshida had been in America but returned to Japan at which time he began hiring carvers and printers to work for him.  Paying close attention to their work, he would often work alongside them, teaching and encouraging. 

In addition to his travels to the United States, Hiroshi Yoshida frequently visited China, Korea, Europe, Africa, India, and all throughout his own country of Japan.  His other ambition in addition travel and painting was mountaineering.  Because of his personal interests, you would find most of his woodblock prints depicting mountain or travel.  For instance, landscapes from his various trips are often captured. 

Remember, Hiroshi Yoshida was painting in the middle of the old and new worlds of Japan.  While he was raised and taught with the old Japanese traditions, he was also proud of learning about new things and opportunities.  Therefore, his woodblock prints have a contemporary flare, somewhat cosmopolitan.  One of the greatest of series planned by Hiroshi Yoshida was called One Hundred Views of the World.  Sadly, he died before he could breathe life into these creations.