Rooster and Weasel
by Ohara Koson
- Date:
- c. 1928–1930
- Medium:
- Woodblock print, ink and color on paper
- Format:
- Oban
- Dimensions:
- 33.1 × 23.8 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 faces down a weasel in a standoff of mutual alarm — the bird puffing itself up in defensive display, the weasel coiled and calculating. The dynamic tension between predator and prey is a recurring theme in Koson's work, but this confrontation between two animals of roughly comparable size gives the scene an unusual equality: neither party is clearly dominant, and the outcome is genuinely uncertain. His treatment of both animals is naturalistic without losing the drama of the moment.
More Prints by Ohara Koson
More Birds & Flowers Prints
Featured in Collections
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rooster and Weasel was created by Ohara Koson (小原古邨) in c. 1928–1930.
Rooster and Weasel was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (c. 1928–1930).
Rooster and Weasel depicts birds & flowers.
Rooster and Weasel measures 33.1 × 23.8 cm (Oban format).