Ohara Koson
Encyclopedia
Ohara Koson was a Japan
ese 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 became 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
triptych
s illustrating episodes of the Russo-Japanese War
(senso-e), but most of his production was prints of animals (kachō-ga
). He worked at first with publishers Akiyama Buemon (Kokkeidō) and Matsuki Heikichi (Daikokuya), signing his work Koson. Starting around 1926, he became associated with the publisher Watanabe Shozaburo
, and signed his work Shōson. He also worked with the publisher Kawaguchi, signing his works Hōson.
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.
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
ese painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
and printmaker of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, part of the shin hanga
Shin hanga
was an art movement in early 20th-century Japan, during the Taishō and Shōwa periods, that revitalized traditional ukiyo-e art rooted in the Edo and Meiji periods...
("new prints") movement.
He was born Ohara Matao; it is thought that he started training in painting and design at the Ishikawa Prefecture
Ishikawa Prefecture
is a prefecture of Japan located in the Chūbu region on Honshū island. The capital is Kanazawa.- History :Ishikawa was formed from the merger of Kaga Province and the smaller Noto Province.- Geography :Ishikawa is on the Sea of Japan coast...
Technical School in 1889–1893. He also became studied painting with Suzuki Kason (1860 – 1919), although accounts differ on whether this happened during his school years or after he moved to Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in the middle to late 1890s.
In Tokyo, he produced some woodblock
Woodblock printing
Woodblock printing is a technique for printing text, images or patterns used widely throughout East Asia and originating in China in antiquity as a method of printing on textiles and later paper....
triptych
Triptych
A triptych , from tri-= "three" + ptysso= "to fold") is a work of art which is divided into three sections, or three carved panels which are hinged together and can be folded shut or displayed open. It is therefore a type of polyptych, the term for all multi-panel works...
s illustrating episodes of the Russo-Japanese War
Russo-Japanese War
The Russo-Japanese War was "the first great war of the 20th century." It grew out of rival imperial ambitions of the Russian Empire and Japanese Empire over Manchuria and Korea...
(senso-e), but most of his production was prints of animals (kachō-ga
Bird-and-flower painting
Bird-and-flower painting is a kind of Chinese painting named after its subject matter. Normally, most bird-and-flower paintings belong to the scholar-artist style of Chinese painting....
). He worked at first with publishers Akiyama Buemon (Kokkeidō) and Matsuki Heikichi (Daikokuya), signing his work Koson. Starting around 1926, he became associated with the publisher Watanabe Shozaburo
Watanabe Shozaburo
was a Japanese print publisher and the driving force behind the Japanese printmaking movement known as shin hanga . He started his career working for the export company of Kobayashi Bunshichi, which gave him an opportunity to learn about exporting art prints...
, and signed his work Shōson. He also worked with the publisher Kawaguchi, signing his works Hōson.
Through his association with Watanabe, Ohara's work was exhibited abroad, and his prints sold well, particularly in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. He was active designing prints until at least 1935, and died at his home in Tokyo in 1945.