A Life Immersed in Nature: The World of Ohara Koson Ohara Koson, a name synonymous with the serene beauty of Japanese bird-and-flower prints, was born as Ohara Matao in Kanazawa, Japan, in 1877. His life unfolded during a period of profound transformation for Japan, bridging the traditions of the Edo and Meiji eras with the burgeoning influences of Western art. Though he adopted several artistic names throughout his career – Hōson and Shōson among them – it is as Koson that he achieved lasting recognition as a master of *kachō-e*, the genre dedicated to depictions of birds and flowers. His j…