Japanese waxwing on maple by Ohara Koson

Japanese Waxwing on Maple by Ohara Koson is a delicate early 20th-century Japanese woodblock print showing a waxwing perched among red maple leaves. The work reflects the shin-hanga style, combining traditional ukiyo-e composition with refined naturalism, soft color, and spacious negative areas. Its autumn subject evokes quiet seasonal beauty and the elegance of Japanese bird-and-flower imagery.

Ohara Koson was a Japanese printmaker best known for kachō-e, or bird-and-flower prints. Active during the Meiji, Taishō, and early Shōwa periods, he created graceful nature scenes featuring birds, blossoms, trees, and animals. His work remains highly admired for its subtle detail, poetic atmosphere, and decorative balance.