"Water Lilies," Ohara Koson, 1920s.

Ohara (1877-1945) was a pre-eminent painter and woodblock print designer of the late 18th and early 20th centuries. He belonged to the shin-hanga school, which revived the styles and aesthetics of the ukiyo-e school, but also was a major practitioner of the kachō-e subschool... kachō-e means "bird and flower". His specialty was images of the transitory moments of nature, like a bird that could fly away any second, or as we have here, beautiful blooms but with a pad that's been nibbled on.

He also did some historical work, with scenes from the Russo-Japanese war, and some satirical prints, like a delightful scene of sumo-wrestling frogs. But his kachō-e work is best-known. He sold well in the United States, even during the start of WWII.

From the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

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