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Swans & Reeds
by Shoson Ohara (1877-1945)- Koson

	Artist:	Shoson Ohara (1877-1945)- Koson — 小原祥邨、小原古邨
	Title:	Swans & Reeds
	Series:
	Date of first edition?:	1930 (circa)
	Date of this artwork?:	c1930 (may not be accurate)
	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:	32857
	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: Friday, 18 November 2005 Title Two Swans Provenance: Robert O. Muller Estate - first edition Artist Koson Ohara 1877-1945 Signature Shoson Seal shoson Publisher Watanabe Technique/Medium Woodblock print Impression excellent - very good … embossed Colors excellent Condition excellent - very good … slight soil on the upper area. Description Two swans swim on a pond. Subtle gradations and rather unusual reflection of the birds on the water surface. Note Provenance: Robert O. Muller Collection - "Made in Japan" stamped on verso, Watanabe copyright seal D (1931-41). Format Oban yoko-e Width 15.4 inches = 39.0 cm Height 10.2 inches = 26.0 cm
	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)