Tits on Maple
by Shoson Ohara (1877-1945)- Koson

	Artist:	Shoson Ohara (1877-1945)- Koson — 小原祥邨、小原古邨
	Title:	Tits on Maple
	Series:
	Date of first edition?:	Not set
	Publisher (first edition)?:	Daikokuya (Matsuki Heikichi) — 大黒屋
	Publisher (this edition)?:	Daikokuya (Matsuki Heikichi) — 大黒屋
	Medium (first edition):	Woodblock
	Medium (this edition):	Woodblock
	Format (first edition):	Mitsugiri
	Format (this edition):	Mitsugiri
	DB artwork code:	33210
	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: Tits on Maple Artist: Koson Format: O-tanzakuban tate-e: 14.25" x 7.5" Subject: Two great Tits (Parus major) perch on a Maple branch. The Maple frequently appears in Japanese literature and art because of its beautiful autumnal foliage. The compositional arrangement of this print, which runs diagonally from the upper left to the bottom right, dominates Koson's prints depicting birds on vines or branches. In this print, Koson's frontal placement of one of these acrobatic songbirds, which stares directly at us, gives the impression that we are ourselves the audience. For an illustration see 'Crows, Cranes & Camellias' K29.5 page 183, Cat# 113 page 120. Publisher: Daikokuya Date: c. 1910 Condition: Fine colors. Full size. Very minor creases, marks and flaws. Generally fine state of preservation. Impression: 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)