Monkey Holding a Dragonfly
by Shoson Ohara (1877-1945)- Koson

	Artist:	Shoson Ohara (1877-1945)- Koson — 小原祥邨、小原古邨
	Title:	Monkey Holding a Dragonfly
	Series:
	Date of first edition?:	Not set
	Publisher (first edition)?:	Self
	Publisher (this edition)?:	Self
	Medium (first edition):	Painting (on silk/fabric)
	Medium (this edition):	Painting (on silk/fabric)
	Format (first edition):	Aiban
	Format (this edition):	Aiban
	DB artwork code:	42729
	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, 19 November 2010 Artist Koson (Shoson OHARA) (1877-1945) Title "Monkey Holding a Dragonfly" (given name) Date c1910-23 (PRE-1923 earthquake) Provenance Private placement. Consigned by an eastcoast USA collector. Technique Original painting onto silk. Superbly executed shading; life-like shadowing; highly detailed. Image Size 9 7/8 x 12 7/8 Condition Nearly Excellent. Excellent colors. Laid-down onto light backing. (Tiny spot bottom edge; minor discoloration top edge.) Reference/Illus "Crow, Cranes, and Camellias" pl# K-41.18 is related woodblock. (Similar preparatory painting shown "Hiriki Ukiyo-e Museum Catalogue" pl# 59.) Comments A delightful Koson image of a monkey holding and inquisitively studying a dragonfly. A striking ink on silk painting by Shoson OHARA (1877-1945) of his well-known "Monkey Holding a Dragonfly" woodblock print. A unique, truly ONE-of-a-kind artwork by a Meiji-era Japanese well known for his dozens of "kacho-e" (bird and flower) prints. Close-up image clearly shows artist's "red seal" is hand-applied. Item # DJ-23
	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)