Long-eared owl on bare tree branch

Ohara Koson was best known for his kacho-e (bird-and-flower) style woodblock prints. While kacho-e dates back to the 14th century in Japanese art, this motif was particularly popular in the early 20th century shin-hanga (“new prints”) movement, of which Koson was a prominent participant. Kacho-e is characterized by delicate and meticulous outlines and bright color washes.