OHARA KOSON (1877-1945), THREE SPARROWSBy Ohara Koson (1878-1945), sealed KosonJapan, first half of 20th century, late Meiji (1868-1912) to early Showa period (1926-1989)Color woodblock print on paper. Artist’s seal “Koson” to the bottom left. Showing three sparrows amidst a banana plant. Firmly mounted inside a passepartout.SIZE of the image cut-out 32.5 x 18 cm, Size incl. matting 43.5 x 27.5 cmCondition: Excellent condition with good impression and fresh colors. Ohara Koson (1877-1945) was a Japanese painter and woodblock print designer of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, part of the shin-hanga (“new prints”) movement. He is famous as a master of kacho-e (bird-and-flower) designs. Throughout a prolific career, in which he created around 500 prints, he went by three different titles: Ohara Hoson, Ohara Shoson, and Ohara Koson.