Wisteria and Bee 1930

Ohara Koson made this woodblock print, titled 'Wisteria and Bee’. Koson lived through Japan's shift from a feudal society to a modern nation, a time of immense cultural change that influenced his art. Koson was part of the shin-hanga movement, which revitalized traditional ukiyo-e prints for a Western audience. But this was no simple revival; it was a negotiation between Japanese aesthetics and Western tastes. 'Wisteria and Bee' captures this tension. The wisteria, a symbol of longevity and resilience, cascades with delicate purple flowers, while a lone bee suggests the industrious spirit of the modern era. Koson often depicted birds and flowers, reflecting a deep connection to the natural world. While the image presents a harmonious scene, we might ask, how does Koson's work navigate the complex relationship between nature, identity, and industrial progress? The print invites us to reflect on our place within the natural world, and on the shifting cultural landscape of early 20th-century Japan.