Ohara Koson, The Bird and the Spider, 1930s, Gouache and Ink on Silk

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Ohara koson (1877–1945), the bird and the spider. Japan artist: ohara koson (1877–1945) title: the bird and the spider technique: … Read more Ohara koson (1877–1945), the bird and the spider. Japan artist: ohara koson (1877–1945) title: the bird and the spider technique: gouache and ink on silk, mounted under glass date: ca. 1910–1930 image size: h. 34 cm, w. 18 cm frame: h. 38 cm, w. 22 cm, black lacquered wooden frame with age-related wear signature: signed lower right “古邨” (koson) with red seal condition: good condition with minor wear to frame a refined work by ohara koson depicting a bird perched on a branch above a web with a spider. The composition combines close observation of nature with symbolic atmosphere: the bird’s intense gaze directed at the spider captures the moment between stillness and action. The delicate play of tones on the silk and the subtle colouring are characteristic of koson’s poetic depictions of nature within the shin-hanga tradition. Ohara koson (1877–1945) was a japanese painter and printmaker who worked under several names, including shōson and hōson. He is best known for his bird-and-flower subjects (kacho-e) in the shin-hanga movement, where his technical precision and sensitivity to mood revitalised traditional japanese nature representation. Koson’s works were widely exported to the west and are today represented in many international museums and collections, including in tokyo, london, and new york. See less