Sparrows shelter among the snow-laden branches of a flowering plum tree in this woodblock print by Ohara Koson (1877–1945). Koson was the leading bird-and-flower designer of the shin-hanga movement, the early-twentieth-century revival of the Japanese woodblock print. The plum in snow is an old theme in Japanese art: the ume blossoms while snow still lies on the ground, and so it stands for endurance and the first turn toward spring.
The print is a colour woodblock, made from hand-carved blocks. Koson drew the small birds with close attention — their rounded winter plumage, the soft browns and greys of their feathers — and set them against the white of fresh snow and the pale pink of the blossom. The snow itself is largely the bare paper, weighting the thin branches and softening the whole scene.
The image is quiet and seasonal, a small moment of winter rather than a wide view. Its narrow palette of white, grey, brown and faint pink keeps it restful on a wall. It s . . . Read More >>
Sparrows shelter among the snow-laden branches of a flowering plum tree in this woodblock print by Ohara Koson (1877–1945). Koson was the leading bird-and-flower designer of the shin-hanga movement, the early-twentieth-century revival of the Japanese woodblock print. The plum in snow is an old theme in Japanese art: the ume blossoms while snow still lies on the ground, and so it stands for endurance and the first turn toward spring.
The print is a colour woodblock, made from hand-carved blocks. Koson drew the small birds with close attention — their rounded winter plumage, the soft browns and greys of their feathers — and set them against the white of fresh snow and the pale pink of the blossom. The snow itself is largely the bare paper, weighting the thin branches and softening the whole scene.
The image is quiet and seasonal, a small moment of winter rather than a wide view. Its narrow palette of white, grey, brown and faint pink keeps it restful on a wall. It suits a bedroom, a reading corner, or a breakfast nook, and pairs naturally with other bird prints to build a wintry group.
The print comes in three formats. The paper edition is printed on heavyweight archival stock, ready for a clip frame or custom framing. The framed edition arrives ready to hang, glazed with shatter-resistant acrylic that is lighter and safer than glass. The canvas edition is printed on satin-coated cotton, stretched over a wooden frame.
Frequently asked questions
What does this print show?
Several sparrows gathered among the branches of a plum tree, the branches weighted with snow and carrying early pink blossom.
Why is a plum tree shown blossoming in snow?
The Japanese plum, or ume, flowers very early, while snow can still lie on the ground. The pairing is a long-standing image of endurance and the approach of spring.
How is the snow printed?
The snow is largely the bare white of the paper, left uncoloured so it weights the branches and frames the birds.
Where does this print suit a home?
Its soft winter palette suits a bedroom, a reading corner, or a breakfast nook, and it works well grouped with other bird-and-flower prints.
<< Read Less
Japan historical period: Meiji 明治 (1868-1912)
Check out other artwork of Ohara Koson
#Birds
•
#Birds In Flight
•
#Flying
•
#Japanese Art
•
#Japanese Painting (Nihonga)
•
#Japanese Woodblock Print
•
#Kacho-E
•
#Minimalist
•
#Nature
•
#Ohara Koson
•
#Plum Blossom
•
#Plum Blossoms
•
#Shin-Hanga
•
#Snow
•
#Sparrows
•
#Spring
•
#Wildlife
•
#Winter
•
#Winter Scene
