Cuckoo
by Shoson Ohara (1877-1945)- Koson

	Artist:	Shoson Ohara (1877-1945)- Koson — 小原祥邨、小原古邨
	Title:	Cuckoo
	Series:
	Date of first edition?:	1910 (circa)
	Date of this artwork?:	c1910 (may not be accurate)
	Publisher (first edition)?:	Kokkeido (Akiyama Buemon) - see Akiyama — 秋山武右衛門
	Publisher (this edition)?:	Kokkeido (Akiyama Buemon) - see Akiyama — 秋山武右衛門
	Medium (first edition):	Woodblock
	Medium (this edition):	Woodblock
	Format (first edition):	Mitsugiri
	Format (this edition):	Mitsugiri
	DB artwork code:	33212
	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: Cuckoo Artist: Koson Format: O-tanzakuban tate-e: 14" x 7.5" Subject: A Cuckoo (Cuculus spec.) is in flight during a rain shower, a bush with yellow fruit behind. The Cuckoo is a parasitic breeder, depositing its eggs in the nests of Bush Warblers. However, the clear, gentle call of this bird, with its characteristically long tail, pointed wings and zygodactylous feet, makes it one of the most prized songbirds in Japan. It inspired Japanese poets from as early as the 8th century as seen in the Manyoshu, 'Collection for Ten-thousand Generations'. The Cuckoo is understood as a symbol of early summer. For an illustration see 'Crows, Cranes & Camellias', K6.2 page 172, Cat# 4 page 37. Publisher: Kokkeido Date: c. 1910 Condition: Fine colors. Full size. Minor 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)