Ashi ni shigi (Snipe bird in reeds)
by Ohara Koson
- Date:
- 1900-1920
- Medium:
- Color woodcut
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Edition:
- Published by Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- Library of Congress
by Ohara Koson
Koson's bird-and-flower prints are his most numerous and accessible works — he designed ~450 prints total. Common subjects in average condition remain widely available. Quality of impression, color fidelity, and publisher seal (Kokkeido preferred over Watanabe) are the key value drivers.
"Ashi ni shigi" is a [shin-hanga](/glossary/shin-hanga) nature study by Ohara Koson, created during the Meiji to Showa periods. This work belongs to the [kacho-e](/glossary/kacho-e) (bird-and-flower) tradition, one of the most celebrated genres in Japanese art.
Ohara Koson brings characteristic sensitivity to this naturalistic subject, combining precise observation with poetic atmosphere. The composition balances the living subjects with their environment, creating a scene that feels both scientifically accurate and emotionally resonant.
The technical execution reveals the sophisticated printmaking tradition behind this image — from the precise registration of multiple color blocks to the subtle gradations that give depth and luminosity to the natural subjects.
This print represents Ohara Koson's contribution to the shin-hanga tradition during the Meiji to Showa periods. As with all works by this artist, it reflects both individual artistic vision and the broader cultural moment in which it was created. For collectors and admirers of Japanese printmaking, it offers a window into the sophisticated aesthetic world that produced some of the most beloved images in art history.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Ashi ni shigi (Snipe bird in reeds) was created by Ohara Koson (小原古邨) in 1900-1920.
Ashi ni shigi (Snipe bird in reeds) was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (1900-1920).
Ashi ni shigi (Snipe bird in reeds) depicts birds & flowers.
