Ohara Koson (1877-1945)Originally named Ohara Matao, the Japanese painter Ohara Koson probably studied painting and design in his native Kanazawa. He subsequently adopted the name Koson from his teacher, the artist Suzuki Kason. In the mid 1890s Ohara Koson moved to Tokyo, a city where Western influences were increasingly prevalent. Here Koson designed woodcuts for publishers supplying the Western market. In fact he did not carve the woodcuts himself, simply supplying his designs in the form of paintings. His subjects were invariably from nature, a particular favourite being birds. In all he completed around 450 designs for woodcuts of birds. Koson changed his name after 1910 to Shoson, and later again to Hoson. |
