Created from high-quality wood, milled with simple clean lines and presented with a satin finish. Includes an off-white mount that will not discolour or fade with age. - Simple, elegant design - Premium, fine art paper with a gently textured surface - Handmade by specialist picture framers - FSC certified off-white mat / window mount - Delivered ready for hanging

"Great Tit on Paulownia Branch" is an exquisite representation of natural beauty depicted through the intricate skills of Ohara Koson, a prominent artist from the Shin-Hanga ("new prints") movement in early 20th-century Japan. This movement revitalized traditional ukiyo-e woodblock printing with a renewed emphasis on refined technique and subtle coloration, capturing fleeting moments in nature with a keen sense of elegance.

- Composition and Subject Matter: At the center of the painting, a delicate Great Tit (Parus major) is perched gracefully on a leafy branch of a Paulownia tree. The bird’s plumage is meticulously detailed, displaying a harmonious gradient of green, yellow, and black, which contrasts beautifully with the softer, muted tones of the surrounding foliage. The Paulownia leaves, presented with subtle veining and varied shades of green, lend a sense of depth and realism to the piece. The composition captures a moment of serene stillness, as though the bird has just alighted on the branch, poised in a natural and relaxed manner.

- Color Palette and Technique: Koson’s mastery of gradation and shading is evident in the delicate transitions between light and shadow on the bird's feathers and the leaves. The use of muted, earthy tones interspersed with instances of brighter colors creates a balanced and harmonious visual experience. Koson’s signature is often found discreetly in the corner of the artwork, indicating both his identity and the meticulous attention to detail for which he was renowned.

- Stylistic Elements: The painting exemplifies Koson’s ability to blend realism with the poetic sensibilities of Japanese art. The background is left relatively plain, focusing the viewer's attention on the bird and branch while also reinforcing a sense of tranquil simplicity. The understated elegance of the piece is characteristic of the Shin-Hanga movement, which sought to bring a refined, almost lyrical quality to scenes of everyday life and nature.

- Artist: Ohara Koson (1877-1945), also known as Shoson or Hoson, was a prolific Japanese artist and printmaker who specialized in kachō-ga (bird and flower prints). His works are celebrated for their meticulous detail and serene beauty, often capturing the quiet elegance of wildlife in a way that resonated with both Japanese and Western audiences.

- Original Painting: The original woodblock print of "Great Tit on Paulownia Branch" may be found in various collections around the world due to Koson's popularity and the widespread distribution of his prints. Many of Koson's works are housed in institutions such as the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam and Harvard Art Museums, though specific details regarding the exact location of this particular print may vary as it was widely disseminated and reproduced.

- Artistic Movements and Career: Ohara Koson’s work is a significant part of the Shin-Hanga movement, which emerged as a response to the declining interest in traditional ukiyo-e prints. This movement, guided by publishers such as Watanabe Shozaburo, aimed to rejuvenate and adapt the woodblock printing tradition with modern sensibilities and enhanced artistic expression. Koson’s bird and flower prints garnered substantial acclaim both domestically and internationally, playing a pivotal role in the revival of interest in Japanese prints during the early 20th century.

- Noteworthy Details: Koson’s ability to convey the delicate intricacies of nature with a few brush strokes stands out in "Great Tit on Paulownia Branch." His work is marked by an extraordinary attention to the nuances of light, shadow, and form, achieving a synthesis of naturalism and decorative beauty. Collectors and art enthusiasts highly value Koson’s prints for their artistic finesse and their ability to encapsulate the tranquil beauty of the natural world.

In summary, "Great Tit on Paulownia Branch" by Ohara Koson is a testament to the artist’s profound skill and his significant contribution to the Shin-Hanga movement, encapsulating the quiet grace of nature with an exquisite level of detail and artistic sensitivity.