Ohara Koson

Shoson, Hoson, 1877-1945

Grasshoppers on Grass

signed Koson with artist's seal Koson, published by Daikokuya (Matsuki Heikichi), ca. 1900-1930

o-tanzaku 14 1/4 by 7 1/2 in., 36.3 by 19.2 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.

This print appears to be the earlier version of the design published by Daikokuya; the publisher Nishinomiya issued a very similar version of the same design which features greater definition on the blades of grass and softer, elongated shapes on the grey seeds and grasses in the background.

References:
Amy Reigle Newland; Jan Perree; and Robert Schapp, Crows, Cranes & Camellias: The Natural World of Ohara Koson, 1877-1945, 2001, p. 105, cat. no. 93 (Nishinomiya version); index p. 190, no. K40.7
Smithsonian, National Museum of Asian Art, Muller Collection, accession no. S2003.8.1826

(inv. no. C-3821)

price: $1,200