Hanga
Two Egrets at Night by Ohara Koson — Japanese Woodblock print, c.1910

Two Egrets at Night

by Ohara Koson

Shin-hanga
Night Scenes
Bokashi
Date:
c.1910
Medium:
Woodblock print
Format:
Oban
Edition:
Published by Watanabe Shozaburo

Description

Two egrets stand in darkness — the white birds luminous against a night sky or dark water, their forms rendered in the pure white of the unpigmented paper highlighted by the surrounding darkness. Dated around 1910, this print belongs to Koson's earlier career period when he was developing the nocturnal compositions that would become central to his mature output. The bokashi gradation creates the depth of the night sky, against which the egrets glow with a quality approaching luminescence.

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 Night Scenes Prints

E

Evening in East Africa

Woodblock print

Evening Shower at Teradomari (Teradomari no yau), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)" by Kawase Hasui

Evening Shower at Teradomari (Teradomari no yau), from the series "Souvenirs of Travel, Second Series (Tabi miyage dai nishu)"

Teradomari no yau

1921

Color woodblock print; oban

Mount Fuji on a Moonlit Night, Kawai Bridge (Tsukiyo no Fuji [Kawaibashi]), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)" by Kawase Hasui

Mount Fuji on a Moonlit Night, Kawai Bridge (Tsukiyo no Fuji [Kawaibashi]), from the series "Selection of Views of the Tokaido (Tokaido fukei senshu)"

1947

Color woodblock print; oban

Evening Moon at Nakanoshima, Sapporo (Sapporo Nakanoshima no yuzuki), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)" by Kawase Hasui

Evening Moon at Nakanoshima, Sapporo (Sapporo Nakanoshima no yuzuki), from the series "Collection of Views of Japan, Eastern Japan Edition (Nihon fukei shu higashi Nihon hen)"

March 1933

Color woodblock print; oban

Featured in Collections

Curated cross-cuts that include this print.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Two Egrets at Night was created by Ohara Koson (小原古邨) in c.1910.

Two Egrets at Night uses Bokashi, on woodblock print.

Two Egrets at Night was published by Watanabe Shozaburo (c.1910).

Two Egrets at Night depicts night scenes.