Koson 小原古邨: Snow on Willow Bridge 雪中の柳橋 (First Edition) (SOLD)

Artist: Ohara Kōson (1877-1945)
Title: Snow on WIllow Bridge 雪中の柳橋  Date: 1927

Two women in traditional kimono cross Yanagibashi (Willow Bridge), their snow-covered umbrellas braced against the blowing snow as they cross this famous bridge on the Sumida River in Asakusa. Hokusai and Hiroshige both designed prints with this bridge as their subject, and this feels like a rather idealized dream image from previous era. The snow-covered willow branches draw our our attention downwards towards the two women, and their colorful kimono are a delightful contrast against the grey and white backdrop. Beautifully printed, with blindprinting on the bridge and on the umbrellas, as well as spattered gofun (shell white) that has been hand-applied to the design to give verity to the snowflakes. This oban design is something of a departure from Koson’s usual bird-and-flower images, but it is considered one of his best designs–indeed, this is one of the most famous designs in shin hanga.  It is rarely found with the earliest Watanabe seal, as here, which was in use between 1924 and 1930. This work was purchased in Japan, and has never been framed and suffered fading. Note that a faded example of this design with a postwar seal sold for $17,640 at Christies in March of 2024.

Condition: Excellent impression and color; excellent/very good condition. Some hinging remnants verso that show through to recto in upper right corners. One minor crease. Dimensions: 38.6 x 25.8 cm
Literature: Brown, Kendall H. & Goodall-Cristante, Hollis, Shin-Hanga, New Prints in Modern Japan, LACMA, 1996, p. 81, fig. 109, cat. 89; Reigle Newland, Amy; Perree, Jan & Schapp, Robert, Crows, Cranes & Camellias: the natural world of Ohara Koson, 1877-1945, Hotei Publishing, 2001, p. 159, no. 166. See MFA Boston.
Signature: Shoson

SKU: KOS253