72 Ohara Koson 1877 – 1945 Two Monkeys and Butterflies

Japan, ca. 1936 (Shōwa period)

This charming sheet is the work of master Ohara Koson, one of the most prominent figures in the kachō-ga (bird-and-flower/animal picture) genre within the modern shin-hanga movement. Dating to approximately 1936, the design captures a highly endearing spring scene. A larger monkey, sitting on a grassy meadow in early spring, looks curiously and with an almost human-like expression at a butterfly it has gently caught in its hand. A smaller monkey peers out cautiously from behind her back. The composition is enlivened by another butterfly fluttering in the upper section against a warm orange background. The print excels in its incredibly detailed rendering of the monkeys' fur, a testament to the absolute mastery of the carvers and printers of the era. On this specific work, the artist used the signature and seal Shoson, the art name under which he published most of his highly acclaimed later designs.