Umbrella ("Amagasa") 1940

"Umbrella" is a Japanese woodblock print by Toshi Yoshida, whose career bridged traditional and modern approaches to printmaking. This print encapsulates a quiet moment in the urban landscape, featuring two women in kimonos walking in the rain. The umbrellas and rain-slicked streets evoke a feeling of gentle melancholy, a common theme in Japanese art which values the transience of life. Yoshida was part of the Shin-Hanga movement, which revitalized traditional woodblock printing by incorporating Western artistic elements, while maintaining Japanese subjects. This is visible in the print’s use of perspective, realistic shadows, and nuanced color palette. Yoshida traveled extensively, and his work often reflected the cultural identities and everyday life he encountered. "Umbrella" invites us to reflect on the beauty in ordinary scenes, and the emotional depth of the everyday experience.