Magpie with Pink and White Magnolia Blossoms
by Ohara Koson
- Date:
- Shōwa period, circa 1931
- Medium:
- Woodblock print in "ōban" format; ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 36.5 × 23.8 cm
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Edition:
- Published by Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- Harvard Art Museums
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
A magpie perches among pink and white magnolia blossoms — the bold black-and-white pattern of the bird providing dramatic contrast with the flowers' delicate color and the bare branches of the magnolia tree in early spring. This circa 1931 oban-format print shows Koson at his compositional peak, the bird and branch positioned with an elegance that looks effortless but requires the most careful calculation. The magnolia's brief bloom period gives the scene its seasonal urgency.
More Prints by Ohara Koson
More Birds & Flowers Prints
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Magpie with Pink and White Magnolia Blossoms was created by Ohara Koson (小原古邨) in Shōwa period, circa 1931.
Magpie with Pink and White Magnolia Blossoms was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (Shōwa period, circa 1931).
Magpie with Pink and White Magnolia Blossoms depicts birds & flowers.
Magpie with Pink and White Magnolia Blossoms measures 36.5 × 23.8 cm (Oban format).