Ohara Shoson Keepsake Boxed Notecards

Ohara Shōson (1877–1945) was known by several names. He was born as Ohara Matao and began using the name Kōson once he became an artist. He later called himself Shōson, when designing prints for publisher Watanabe Shōzaburō, and Hōson, when working with publishers Sakai and Kawaguchi.

Shōson specialized in Japanese woodblock prints, particularly kachō-e (bird-and-flower pictures). The four prints included in this set of keepsake boxed notecards, all from the collection of the Toledo Museum of Art, show how meticulously he rendered both animals and nature, adding embossed detail in lieu of inking a design when necessary.

Contains 4 each of the following images:
Kingfisher and Iris (Hanashōbu ni hisui), 1926
Camellia and Rice Birds (Tsubaki ni shirobunchō), 1929
Skylark and Peach Blossoms (Toka ni Hibari), published 1931
Plum Blossoms and Bullfinch (Baiha ni Uguisu), published 1931