Tits on Cherry Branch (1900 - 1910) - Ohara Koson (Japanese, 1877-1945)

Ohara Koson’s Tits on Cherry Branch (1900–1910) is a charming kachō-ga (bird-and-flower) woodblock print that captures the delicate beauty of small songbirds perched on a blossoming cherry branch. Koson’s refined artistry shines through in the intricate details of the tits’ feathers and the soft, lifelike texture of the cherry blossoms, rendered with subtle color gradations. The composition balances playful movement and quiet elegance, as the birds interact with their surroundings—one peering curiously while another clings to the fragile blooms. A celebration of seasonal renewal and nature’s fleeting beauty, this work exemplifies Koson’s mastery of the shin-hanga style, appealing to admirers of Japanese wildlife art and ukiyo-e traditions.