Swallows and Bee
by Ohara Koson
- Date:
- c. 1900–1945
- Medium:
- Woodblock print
- Format:
- Oban
- Publisher:
- Watanabe Shozaburo
- Edition:
- Published by Watanabe Shozaburo
- Source:
- Art Gallery of Greater Victoria
by Ohara Koson
Koson's bird-and-flower prints are his most numerous and accessible works — he designed ~450 prints total. Common subjects in average condition remain widely available. Quality of impression, color fidelity, and publisher seal (Kokkeido preferred over Watanabe) are the key value drivers.
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.
Curated cross-cuts that include this print.
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.
