Koson 小原古邨 : Wading Egret in the Rain (First Edition) (SOLD)

Artist: Ohara Koson 古邨 (1877-1945)

Title: Wading White Egret in the Rain  Date: ca 1910s

A little egret (Egretta garzetta) wades in the shallows, undisturbed by the downpour. The overprinted rain falls in fine, irregular sheets of grey. A floating water plant features a single white blossom.  Its white feathers have been very softly printed with gofun, a matte white colorant derived from powdered shells that have been mixed with nikawa. This is the scarce, first edition of this design printed ca. early Taisho period (see KSC048S on our website for the 1930s printing). This is the same version shown on page 82 of “Crows, Cranes & Camellias”. In this version, the background is a more uniform grey, and all the woodblocks have distinctive differences from the later printing. It is this dealer’s opinion that these early Koson works were reprinted at the request of Robert Muller around 1930 for export to America; those often bear the “Made in Japan” seal, verso, and also often feature brighter colors. As so little is known about the printing of Koson’s works, that all one can do is piece together the evidence borne by the prints themselves.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition.
Dimensions: 36.4 x 19.1 cm
Publisher: Daikokuya 
Seal: Koson  Signature: Koson
Literature: Newland, Perrée, & Schaap, Crows, Cranes & Camellias (2001), checklist no. K14.14, page 177 and, cat. no. 61, page 177.

SKU: KOC111T