Kikker op lotusblad 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson made this woodblock print called ‘Frog on Lotus Leaf’, but its date is unknown. It’s now housed in the Rijksmuseum. Koson was a prominent figure in the Shin-Hanga movement in Japan, which revitalized traditional Ukiyo-e printmaking. He created this during a period when Japanese artists were negotiating between long-held cultural values and Western influences. The Shin-Hanga movement, backed by publishers, aimed at exporting Japanese art and culture. Koson, originally trained in traditional painting, adapted his skills to meet this new market demand, focusing on bird-and-flower prints (kachōga) in a style appealing to Western tastes. The print shows a frog peacefully resting on a lotus leaf during a rain shower. The scene suggests a sense of harmony and tranquility, reflecting traditional Japanese aesthetics. However, it also represents a self-conscious revival and reinvention of traditional art forms for a global audience. To understand the artistic, social and cultural context better, one may refer to historical archives, collections of prints, and literature on the Shin-Hanga movement. This helps us see how this artwork embodies the complex cultural exchanges of its time.