Inside: A collection of all Japanese vintage posts on Pictureboxblue in one place. From maps to botanicals, art and travel posters and photos.
A trip to Japan is definitely on my bucket list. Hopefully, when travel returns to normal over the next few years I will make it to Tokyo. I love Japanese art, culture and food and can’t wait to see the country too.
My love of all things vintage Japan is reflected by the number of Japanese themed posts curated on the site. There are many more Japanese collections I can’t wait to curate.
Don’t forget to pin this post and return. More and more Japanese themed vintage images will be featured.
Vintage Japan
Japanese art and culture have greatly influenced western artists and designers over the centuries. The early ukiyo-e woodblock prints of artists such as Utagawa Kuniyoshi influenced the 19th-century impressionist art movement.
Vintage Japanese art and design were also very important elements of the Art Nouveau movement. For example, the well-known artist and designer Maurice Pillard Verneuil was inspired by Japanese art and nature.
Exhibitions held in London and Paris in the 1860s displayed Japanese arts and crafts to the west for the first time. The Japanese aesthetic impacted the Arts and Crafts movement pioneered by William Morris. He admired Japanese craftsmanship as a counter to the machine-made products of the industrial revolution.
The British designer Christopher Dresser was an advocate of Japanese design. He also worked as an art advisor for Londos, a company that imported Japanese goods.
The Japanese Vintage Collection
The following collection of posts is a mixture of photos, maps, illustrations and art. They all have one common theme: they are from 18th, 19th and early 20th century Japan.
Just visit the collection that you are interested in. There you will be able to download and print antique Japanese images.
They are all in the Public Domain. Just click on the title above the image you want. It will then open in a new window on your browser. The images can be saved to your device by right-clicking on them with your mouse.
Kimono Art: Unveiling the Vintage Patterns of MoyM Bijutsu Benran
Discover 21 stunning vintage Kimono prints from "Moyō Bijutsu Benran" by Hironobu Asai, now free to download! Dive into the beauty of traditional Japanese patterns and enrich your collection.
Amazing Vintage Japanese Travel Posters Free To Print
A beautiful collection of vintage Japanese travel posters. All of the Japanese vintage travel posters are from the 1930s. They were made by the Japanese Government Railways and feature many of the most popular Japanese tourist sites.
Utagawa Kuniyoshi Prints: Unlock the Mystique of Edo Art with Free Downloads
A free collection of Utagawa Kuniyoshi prints. These vintage Ukiyo-e Japanese woodcut prints are wonderful pieces of art. They depict famous Japanese actors and everyday Tokyo life from the 19th century.
Old Maps of Japan in the Public Domain
An interesting colorful collection of old maps of Japan. The maps range from the early 17th century to the early 20th century. They include maps of the whole country and maps of the capital Tokyo during the Edo period in the 19th century.
Kusakabe Kimbei Stunning Old Japanese Photos Free To Print
A wonderful collection of vintage Japanese colourized photographs by Kusakabe Kimbei. Photos of everyday 19th Century Japanese life. These are beautiful photos, I love the way they have been hand colored. My favorite has to be of the tatooed actor.
45 Free Old Japanese Art Prints From The Shin-Bijutsukai
The Shin-Bijutsukai was a turn of the century (1901-1902) design magazine full of wonderful Japanese vintage art prints. They were original woodblock prints from the best Japanese artists at the time.
Watanabe Seitei Prints From The Japanese Bijutsu Sekai
Watanabe Seitei was one of the first Japanese artists to visit the west. He one a prize at the Paris Exhibition of `1878. This is a collection of his wonderful vintage Japanese prints, from the 19th Century Japanese Art review magazine Bijutsu Sekai.
A Charming Collection of Helen Hyde Woodblock Prints
Delightful Japanese woodblock prints of mothers and children at play by Helen Hyde.
40 Beautiful Vintage Japanese Iris Paintings In The Public Domain
A stunning collection of vintage Japanese iris paintings. Each image has a rather fun and poetic name.
25 Free Prints of Beautiful Traditional Japanese Patterns and Designs
Free traditional Japanese patterns and designs from the seminal book Kyūko zufu. With explanations about the symbolism for each natural element used in Japanese patterns from flowers, to birds, butterflies and geometrics.
Ohara Koson Birds in Full Splendor: Download Gorgeous Free Prints Today!
Discover the timeless beauty of Ohara Koson's bird paintings with this curated collection of free prints. From graceful cranes to vibrant songbirds, immerse yourself in the delicate and detailed artistry that captures the essence of nature’s winged wonders.
16 Beautiful Kono Bairei Prints of Japanese Flowers and Birds
Revel in the mesmerizing beauty of Kono Bairei's Japanese paintings. Discover the tales of birds and flowers that unveil a timeless narrative, all available for your appreciation in the Public Domain.
If your in to all things Japanese then you may enjoy this how to draw cherry blossoms tutorial.
Some vintage images of Japanese board games are in the vintage board game illustrations collection and in the hot air balloon art prints. Octopuses are a popular theme in Japanese culture, so a few Japanese woodblock prints are in this octopus illustrations collection and some Japanese dragon pictures are here.
Don’t forget to check out the many other vintage art and design collections on Pictureboxblue.
Cecilia
Sunday 8th of August 2021
What a unique collection! Thanks for sharing your lovely prints at Vintage Charm! Pinning!
claire
Sunday 8th of August 2021
Thank you so much, they are lovely Japanese prints.
Andrea
Thursday 5th of August 2021
We've also been watching the Olympics at night. It's been fun watching some sports we've never seen before including the canoeing and skateboarding. I feel way too old to even think about trying some of these. The Japanese art is amazing. Japan is on our bucket list to visit some day. Thanks for sharing your images! -Andrea
claire
Friday 6th of August 2021
Thank you. I've really enjoyed the new sports at this Olympics from climbing to 3on3 basketball.
Laura Coyne
Monday 2nd of August 2021
I just wanted to tell you how beautiful the Japanese art is! I really like your site; it is so inspiring! So nice that someone takes the time to curate such wonderful images that people don't have the opportunity to see. I, personally, love all things vintage. There is a quality about them that you just don't find these days. And I really do love Japanese-themed things. I dream of going to Japan. Too bad my spouse has no interest. Anyway, thank you for all that you do here. I so appreciate your efforts!
claire
Monday 2nd of August 2021
Thank you so much for your lovely comment. I just have a passion for vintage images and then noticed I seem to have a bit of a Japanese bias. I have many more gems to share as I find more and more gorgeous images. I'm glad you are enjoying them.