White-tailed Eagle, Ohara Koson

Neglecting the large landscapes that created the glory of Hiroshige and Hokusai, Ohara Koson focused almost exclusively on depicting plants and animals whose particular textures and behaviour he had scrupulously observed. His plates of birds, with their admirable perfection, reveal the sublime mastery of his art and solid knowledge of ornithology. Like Kawase Hasui, Ohara Koson remains little-known in Europe where, for many enthusiasts, the art of Japanese prints is limited to such grand masters as Hiroshige and Hokusai.

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