Mallard Ducks in Coastal Scene
by Shoson Ohara (1877-1945)- Koson

	Artist:	Shoson Ohara (1877-1945)- Koson — 小原祥邨、小原古邨
	Title:	Mallard Ducks in Coastal Scene
	Series:
	Date of first edition?:	1931
	Publisher (first edition)?:	Watanabe — 渡辺
	Publisher (this edition)?:	Watanabe — 渡辺
	Medium (first edition):	Woodblock
	Medium (this edition):	Woodblock
	Format (first edition):	Oban
	Format (this edition):	Oban
	DB artwork code:	28693
	Notes (first edition)?:
	Notes (this edition)?:	The following information was taken from the original web listing of this artwork. Note that there may be some inaccuracies: Koson, Ohara- water birds- 1.jpg is: Mallards in Coastal Scene Artist: Koson Format: Oban tate-e: 15.25" x 10.25" Subject: Nine Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos), one standing on a rock, gather near a bank covered in Pampas grass. This is one of the few dated designs of the artist's work (in this case Showa 6[1931]). It is unusual within Koson's oeuvre in that it includes a detailed landscape element. This style is more in keeping with the work of other Watanabe artists such as Kawase Hasui and Kasamatsu Shiro. See 'Crows, Cranes & Camellias' # S7.2 page 146, Cat. 146 page 146. Publisher: Watanabe Date: 1931 Condition: Very fine colors. Full size with margins. Very minor marks and flaws. Generally fine state of preservation. Impression: Very fine impression with gauffrage.
	Artist Bio:	Ohara Koson (小原 古邨?, Kanazawa 1877 ? Tokyo 1945) was a Japanese painter and printmaker of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, part of the shin-hanga ("new prints") movement. He was born Ohara Matao; it is thought that he started training in painting and design at the Ishikawa Prefecture Technical School in 1889-1893. He also studied painting with Suzuki Kason (1860 ? 1919), although accounts differ on whether this happened during his school years or after he moved to Tokyo in the middle to late 1890s. In Tokyo, he produced some woodblock triptychs illustrating episodes of the Russo-Japanese War, but most of his production was prints of animals (kacho-ga). He worked at first with publishers Akiyama Buemon (Kokkeido?) and Matsuki Heikichi (Daikokuya), signing his work Koson. Starting around 1926, he became associated with the publisher Watanabe Shozaburo, and signed his work Shoson. He also worked with the publisher Kawaguchi, signing his works Hoson. Through his association with Watanabe, Ohara's work was exhibited abroad, and his prints sold well, particularly in the United States. He was active designing prints until at least 1935, and died at his home in Tokyo in 1945. (from Wikipedia)