Ohara Koson, Shoson, 1877-1945

Snow on Willow Bridge

signed at lower left Shoson, with artist's seal Shoson, and publisher's seal (in blue) on lower right margin, Hanmoto Watanabe hangaten (Publisher Watanabe print shop [seal ca. 1927-32])

oban tate-e 15 1/8 by 10 in., 38.5 by 25.5 cm

Ohara Koson was one of the most important and prolific kacho-ga (bird and flower) woodblock prints artists of the early 20th century shin hanga (new print) movement. He began publishing prints with Watanabe Shozaburo after the 1923 Great Kanto Earthquake, around 1926. Before the earthquake, Koson published kacho-ga with Kokkeido (Akiyama Buemon) in Nihonbashi; Daikokuya (Matsuki Heikichi) in Ryogokubashi; and Nishinomiya Yosaku; always using the go (artist's name) Koson. When he began publishing with Watanabe Shozaburo, he adopted the go, Shoson. His prints are generally not dated and frequently without publisher seals.

References:
Brown, Kendall H. & Goodall-Cristante, Hollis, Shin-Hanga, New Prints in Modern Japan, LACMA, 1996, p. 81, fig. 109, cat. 89
Reigle Newland, Amy; Perree, Jan & Schapp, Robert, Crows, Cranes & Camellias: the natural world of Ohara Koson, 1877-1945, Hotei Publishing, 2001, p. 159, no. 166

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