Ohara Koson

Ohara Koson (1877-1945) was a master of kachō-ga (bird-and-flower pictures) and flourished from the late Meiji to early Shōwa era. Koson’s work has recently gained recognition in Japan after being overlooked for a long time. “Ohara Koson” was an exhibition held in 2019 at the Ota Memorial Museum of Art that was unexpectedly successful. This year marks the 80th anniversary of Koson’s death, so the museum will host the first exhibition on his work in six years.

Using ukiyo-e woodblock printing techniques inherited from the Edo period, he created numerous works of birds, flowers, and animals. His works are characterized by their delicate, subtle colors, which belie their origins as woodblock prints. In this exhibition, works bearing Koson’s seal will be shown that were published by publishers such as Matsuki Heikichi and Akiyama Buemon. These works were published between the late Meiji and Taisho periods. The exhibition will showcase about 130 works, with a complete change in the exhibits between the first and second halves. About a quarter will not have been shown in the previous Koson exhibition.

The exhibition will also feature kachō-ga by artists active from the Edo period to the Meiji era, such as Katsushika Hokusai, Utagawa Hiroshige, Kawanabe Kyosai, and Watanabe Seitei. Visitors are invited to enjoy the birds’ paradise depicted by Ohara Koson and the others.

Admission

Adult	1000 yen
University and High school students	700 yen
Junior High School Students and below (under 15 years old)	Free

Calendar