Rooster and Hen with Chicks
by Ohara Koson
- Date:
- c. 1928–1930
- Medium:
- Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 33.1 × 23.7 cm
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Edition:
- Published by Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- Minneapolis Institute of Art
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 rooster, hen, and their brood of chicks — the complete farmyard family rendered with domestic warmth. The rooster's bold plumage, the hen's calmer coloring, and the tiny chicks scrambling around the parents create a composition of family life that transcends species. Koson's farmyard bird prints engage a tradition of Japanese poultry subjects that extends back to the earliest animal paintings, giving the humble chicken and its offspring the same formal dignity as the most exotic species.
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Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rooster and Hen with Chicks was created by Ohara Koson (小原古邨) in c. 1928–1930.
Rooster and Hen with Chicks was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (c. 1928–1930).
Rooster and Hen with Chicks depicts birds & flowers.
Rooster and Hen with Chicks measures 33.1 × 23.7 cm (Oban format).