Monkeys and Persimmon
by Ohara Koson
- Date:
- c. 1928–1930
- Medium:
- Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 33.1 × 23.9 cm
- Publisher:
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 monkeys in a persimmon tree — one perhaps reaching for fruit, the other watching from a branch below — give Koson a subject combining the primate's impish energy with the persimmon's autumnal warmth. The kaki tree loaded with orange fruit was a beloved subject in Japanese art, and placing monkeys in it creates natural narrative: the animals attracted by the fruit, their movements among the branches creating a scene of casual animal life. The combination of soft color and active figures is characteristic of his 1928–1930 period.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Monkeys and Persimmon was created by Ohara Koson (小原古邨) in c. 1928–1930.
Monkeys and Persimmon was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (c. 1928–1930).
Monkeys and Persimmon depicts food & drink and animals.
Monkeys and Persimmon measures 33.1 × 23.9 cm (Oban format).
