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.
A print produced as a Christmas card, with geese as the seasonal subjects — a crossover between the Japanese kacho-e tradition and Western holiday gift culture that reflects the international market for Koson's work. He was well aware that foreign buyers constituted a significant portion of his market, and this kind of Western-occasion print demonstrates his pragmatic engagement with that audience. The geese — associated in Japan with autumn migration and in the West with the barnyard — translate across cultures with appealing ease.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Geese Christmas Card was created by Ohara Koson (小原古邨) in description.
Geese Christmas Card was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (description).
Geese Christmas Card depicts birds & flowers, winter, and animals.
