Hanga
Swallows and Bee by Ohara Koson — Japanese Woodblock print, c. 1900–1945

Swallows and Bee

by Ohara Koson

Shin-hanga
Insects
Date:
c. 1900–1945
Medium:
Woodblock print
Format:
Oban
Edition:
Published by Watanabe Shozaburo

Description

Swallows in flight share the composition with a bee — the small insect's presence giving scale to the birds and creating a compositional counterpoint of very different flight styles. Swallows pursue insects aerially, and the bee here may be both prey and visual element, its slow buzzing flight contrasted with the swallows' rapid, darting movement. Koson produced this swallow subject across several decades, refining his approach to rendering high-speed aerial motion.

More Prints by Ohara Koson

Cat and Goldfish by Ohara Koson

Cat and Goldfish

c. 1928–1930

Woodblock print, ink and color on paper

Heron or Egret by Ohara Koson

Heron or Egret

c. 1900–1945

Woodblock print

"Snipes and Reeds," 1926 and "Wild Ducks and Pampas Grass" by Ohara Koson

"Snipes and Reeds," 1926 and "Wild Ducks and Pampas Grass"

Two woodblocks in colors (framed separately)

Barn Swallow in flight by Ohara Koson

Barn Swallow in flight

Mokuhanga (Japanese woodblock)

More Insects Prints

Hotaru Gari- Firefly Hunting by Miyagawa Shuntei

Hotaru Gari- Firefly Hunting

Not set

Woodblock print

Chrysanthemums and Bee, from an untitled series of Large Flowers by Katsushika Hokusai

Chrysanthemums and Bee, from an untitled series of Large Flowers

Woodblock print

Butterfly and Blue Flower by Yoshijiro Urushibara

Butterfly and Blue Flower

Woodblock print

Ancient Sea, Spider Conch (27/45) by Mayumi Oda

Ancient Sea, Spider Conch (27/45)

Woodblock print

Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

Shin-Hanga: Japan's Twentieth-Century Print Revival

Frequently Asked Questions

Swallows and Bee was created by Ohara Koson (小原古邨) in c. 1900–1945.

Swallows and Bee was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (c. 1900–1945).

Swallows and Bee depicts insects.