Ducks Swimming under Lakeside Reeds
by Ohara Koson
- Date:
- Shōwa period, dated to 1931
- Medium:
- Woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper, with printed signature reading "Shōson"
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 39.5 × 26 cm
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Edition:
- Published by Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- Harvard Art Museums
Description
Two ducks swim among the reeds at the lake's edge, the 1931 Showa-period date and the Shoson signature marking this as a late, assured work. The horizontal reed stalks create a compositional rhythm behind the birds, the water's surface rendered with the bokashi gradation that gives Koson's aquatic scenes their characteristic depth. The ducks' movement through the water is suggested rather than frozen — a few ripples, the slight forward tilt of the body — the whole scene poised in a moment of unhurried natural life.
More Prints by Ohara Koson
More Landscapes Prints
Lake Kugushi in Wakasa Province (Wakasa Kugushiko), from the series Souvenirs of Travel I (Tabi miyage dai isshu)"
Wakasa Kugushiko
1920
Color woodblock print; oban
Autumn Maple Leaves at Takao, from the album Eight Views of Kyoto (Kyôto hakkei)
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The Beach at Kaiganji in Sanuki Province (Sanuki Kaiganji no hama), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan II, Kansai Edition (Nihon fukei shu II Kansai hen)"
1934
Color woodblock print; oban
Tea Kettle, section of a sheet from the series "Mirror of Stone Rubbings of Views of the Provinces" (Kohon meihitsu ishizuri kagami)
n.d.
Woodblock print; ishizuri-e, section of harimaze sheet
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ducks Swimming under Lakeside Reeds was created by Ohara Koson (小原古邨) in Shōwa period, dated to 1931.
Ducks Swimming under Lakeside Reeds uses Bokashi, on woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper, with printed signature reading "shōson".
Ducks Swimming under Lakeside Reeds was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (Shōwa period, dated to 1931).
Ducks Swimming under Lakeside Reeds depicts landscapes.
Ducks Swimming under Lakeside Reeds measures 39.5 × 26 cm (Oban format).