Hanga
Azalea in Pot by Ohara Koson — Japanese Woodblock print, ink and color on paper, c. 1928–1930

Azalea in Pot

by Ohara Koson

Date:
c. 1928–1930
Medium:
Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
Format:
Oban
Dimensions:
36.2 × 23.9 cm
Edition:
Published by Watanabe Shozaburo

Typical Price

Koson's vast output of ~450 designs spans birds, flowers, fish, insects, and occasional landscapes. While his large production keeps most prints accessible, early Kokkeido-period impressions with muted, elegant Meiji-era coloring are distinctly more sought after than the brighter later Watanabe editions.

  • Later printings: $100–$500
  • Good lifetime editions: $500–$2,500
  • Rare subjects or exceptional impressions: $2,500–$8,000

Description

An azalea in a ceramic pot — the flower's deep pink or red clusters contained within the domestic object, the whole composition balanced between garden culture and the decorative arts. Koson's potted-flower subjects are among his most intimate compositions, the contained scale of the pot giving the image a quality very different from his expansive bird prints. Produced around 1928–1930 during his most prolific period, the azalea print demonstrates his ability to find beauty in the small and domestic as readily as in the dramatic.

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Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

Frequently Asked Questions

Azalea in Pot was created by Ohara Koson (小原古邨) in c. 1928–1930.

Azalea in Pot was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (c. 1928–1930).

Azalea in Pot depicts birds & flowers.

Azalea in Pot measures 36.2 × 23.9 cm (Oban format).