Egrets in the Snow is a bird-and-flower print by Ohara Koson (1877–1945), the foremost kacho-e printmaker of the shin-hanga movement. White egrets stand among reeds in falling snow, the birds set as white against white, a quiet test of how little a picture needs to hold a scene.
The print is a colour woodblock. Koson builds the winter from white, soft grey, and the bare paper, the egrets given form by the faintest of outlines and the dark of beak and eye. The snow is suggested rather than drawn, so the whole image rests in stillness and cold air.
In a room the near-monochrome print brings calm. Its pale tones suit a bedroom, a study, or a meditation corner, and they sit easily beside light wood and natural textiles, in keeping with japandi and Scandinavian interiors. Beside other Koson studies it builds a wall of quiet natural subjects.
Each print is made to order in three forms. The paper edition is printed on thick snow-white stock. The framed edition a . . . Read More >>
Egrets in the Snow is a bird-and-flower print by Ohara Koson (1877–1945), the foremost kacho-e printmaker of the shin-hanga movement. White egrets stand among reeds in falling snow, the birds set as white against white, a quiet test of how little a picture needs to hold a scene.
The print is a colour woodblock. Koson builds the winter from white, soft grey, and the bare paper, the egrets given form by the faintest of outlines and the dark of beak and eye. The snow is suggested rather than drawn, so the whole image rests in stillness and cold air.
In a room the near-monochrome print brings calm. Its pale tones suit a bedroom, a study, or a meditation corner, and they sit easily beside light wood and natural textiles, in keeping with japandi and Scandinavian interiors. Beside other Koson studies it builds a wall of quiet natural subjects.
Each print is made to order in three forms. The paper edition is printed on thick snow-white stock. The framed edition arrives ready to hang in a wooden frame. The canvas edition is an artist-quality satin canvas stretched over a wooden frame. Every format keeps the pale winter palette of the original.
Frequently asked questions
What does the print show?
White egrets standing among reeds in falling snow, the birds set as white against white.
What is kacho-e?
Bird-and-flower pictures, the Japanese genre of close natural studies in which Koson worked.
Why is the print almost without colour?
The winter subject is built from white, grey, and the bare paper, which keeps the mood calm and still.
Where does this print suit best?
A bedroom, a study, or a meditation corner, where its pale winter tones bring quiet to the room.
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Japan historical period: Showa 昭和 (1926-1989)
Check out other artwork of Ohara Koson
#Bird
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#Egrets
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#Flock
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#Japanese Art
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#Japanese Woodblock Print
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#Kacho-E
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#Nature
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#Ohara Koson
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#Shin-Hanga
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#Snow
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#Waterfowl
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#White
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#Wildlife
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#Winter
