Details

Hiroshi Yoshida began his artistic career as an oil painter and watercolorist. An avid outdoorsman and mountaineer, Yoshida took full advantage of his travels, capturing the natural wonders he encountered, all painted en plein air. In this stunning piece, Yoshida presents a striking mountain scene set in the Japanese Alps.

Fans of Yoshida’s woodblock prints will immediately recognize this composition. The design depicts the iconic, towering form of Mt. Yarigatake, which the artist immortalized in his 1926 woodblock print. Interestingly, the painting differs slightly from the print. While the mountain is presented in the same compositional perspective, the artist chose to depict blooming wildflowers in the foreground, whereas the print features daring mountaineers braving the challenging terrain. The painting likely represents what Yoshida actually encountered during his travels, while the print advances a more dramatic narrative.

Connoisseur's Note

Serious collectors of Hiroshi Yoshida's prints have increasingly turned to his oil and watercolor works to round out their collections. As a result, Yoshida’s paintings have become notably scarce in the market. When they do appear, they fetch prices two to three times higher than they did just a few years ago. This painting is signed with the artist's distinct signature in the lower right corner and is presented in an elegant silver-gilt wood frame.