Japanese Woodblock of Chicks with a Worm by Ohara Koson, Published by Daikokuya, c. 1910

Woodblock print of chicks with a worm by the master of Japanese flower and bird (kach?-e) designs. Ohara Koson (1877-1945) was born in Kanazawa. His original name was Ohara Matao. He studied with Shijo-style painter Suzuki Kason. He started his career under the name of Koson, making Russo-Japanese War prints in 1904 and many small kach?-e (bird and flower) woodblock prints published by Matsuki Heikichi of Daikokuya for export. In 1912, he changed his name to Shoson and dedicated himself to painting but may have designed a few more prints for Daikokuya under the name Koson. In 1926, he resumed to kach?-e woodprint production, published chiefly by Watanabe Shozaburo but also by Nishinomiya Yosaku under the name Shoson and by Sakai-Kawaguchi under the name Hoson.

This print was published in a shorter format and also in this tall, narrow format known as o-tanzaku. An example of this taller version can be found in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art. Reference: plate 122, Crows, Cranes & Camellias by Newland et al