Koson 小原古邨 : Three Little Egrets in Shallow Water (Reserved)

Artist: Ohara Koson (1877-1945)
Title: Three Little Egrets in Shallow Water Beneath Crescent Moon
Date: ca 1934

Three little egrets (Egretta garzetta) are standing in shallow water, their feet obscured beneath the blue-grey mystery of the shallows. In a lovely row of receding perspective are a backdrop of marsh grasses, green and grey with a background haze of green and grey bokashi that offers a subtle sweep of depth. In the soft blue sky with a light horizon hangs the crescent moon, and two of the egrets seem to be looking up at it, although perhaps they are simply reacting to sounds they’ve heard in the mist. The artist seems to delight in comparing the white curve of the moon with the curves in the necks of these graceful birds. In the catalogue raisonné the date is given as 1934. Works published by Watanabe by Koson are always  signed Shoson.

Condition: Excellent impression, color and condition. Never framed. Dimensions: 30.5 x 26 cm
Publisher: Watanabe Shôzaburô  Seal: artist's seal in red
Signature: Shoson
Literature: Newland, Perée, & Schaap, Crows, Cranes & Camellias (2001), checklist no. S14.10. According to this publication, this design was published in the 1936 Watanabe catalog, number 200.

SKU: KOS258