An introduction to the Yoshida family: a century of Japanese printmaking

In this lecture, curator Dr Monika Hinkel introduces the main themes and highlights of the first UK exhibition on the Yoshida family of Japanese printmakers, which will be held at the Dulwich Picture Gallery in London in summer 2024.

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Dr Hinkel examines prints by six members of the Yoshida family, starting with Hiroshi and his wife Fujio, then their sons Tōshi and Hodaka as well as Hodaka’s wife Chizuko. The presentation also considers the art of the current generation of the Yoshida dynasty, Ayomi, Hodaka and Chizuko’s daughter.

The works show the unique talents, diverse printing techniques and innovations that each member brought to printmaking. Commonalities and the differences in themes, styles, and techniques that each member displays are also explored.

About the speaker

Dr Monika Hinkel is Lecturer in the Arts of East Asia at SOAS and an Academic Member of the Japan Research Centre. Her research field is Japanese woodblock prints.

Monika studied Japanese Studies, Oriental Art History and Political Science at Bonn University. She wrote her PhD thesis on the topic of the Japanese print artist Toyohara Kunichika and the influence of bunmei kaika (civilisation and enlightenment) on his prints. Monika has taught the PG module 'Shogunal Iconography' and the UG modules 'Japanese Art' and 'Visual Culture of Early Modern Japan'. 

• Organiser: SOAS Japan Research Centre
• Contact email: centres@soas.ac.uk

Image credit: Yoshida Hiroshi, Kumoi Cherry Trees, 1926. Courtesy Fukuoka Art Museum.