Koson Ohara (1877-1945)

Ohara Koson was a distinguished Japanese painter and woodblock print designer, born in Kanazawa in 1877. He played a significant role in the shinsaku-hanga and shin-hanga art movements, specialising in kachō-e (bird-and-flower) prints. Over his prolific career, he produced approximately 500 prints, showcasing his mastery in capturing the delicate balance of nature in his art.

Koson's artistic journey began with his education at the Ishikawa Prefecture Technical School from 1889 to 1893, where he started training in painting and design. He further developed his skills under the guidance of Suzuki Kason. His initial work in Tokyo included ukiyo-e triptychs depicting the Russo-Japanese War, but he soon focused on the bird-and-flower genre, working with publishers such as Akiyama Buemon and Matsuki Heikichi under the name Koson. His later works, created under the names Shōson and then Hōson, were often published by Watanabe Shōzaburō, fostering his international acclaim, particularly in the United States.

Ohara Koson's prints are celebrated globally and are part of collections in several prestigious museums, including the Toledo Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, and the British Museum, among others. His legacy was further honoured in a significant retrospective at the Manggha Museum in Krakow in 2021, emphasising his enduring impact on the art world and his unique ability to portray the subtle beauty of nature through traditional Japanese printmaking techniques.

Portraits of the artist Ohara Koson 

Signature: Senko kinen Koson e with seal name Koson