Frogs Wrestling
by Ohara Koson
- Date:
- c. 1928–1930
- Medium:
- Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 23.5 × 33 cm
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
by Ohara Koson
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.
Two frogs engaged in a wrestling match — a subject that Koson approaches with deadpan humor, the dignified medium of the woodblock print applied to an absurd spectacle of two small green combatants grappling with each other's limbs. Koson had a gift for the comic within the naturalistic: his frog subjects in particular carry a wit that never mocks the creatures but finds genuine pleasure in their improbable dignity. The print likely presents the frogs close-up against a spare ground, their struggle occupying the entire compositional focus.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frogs Wrestling was created by Ohara Koson (小原古邨) in c. 1928–1930.
Frogs Wrestling was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (c. 1928–1930).
Frogs Wrestling depicts sumo and animals.
Frogs Wrestling measures 23.5 × 33 cm (Oban format).
