Plum Blossom and Full Moon – Ohara Koson

A branch of white plum blossom crossing a pale full moon. Ohara Koson keeps only the essentials: a dark, twisting branch, a few open flowers, petals drifting down and a large silver moon on a soft grey sky. The empty space around the branch is part of the picture, and gives it its calm.

In Japan, plum blossoms are the first flowers of the year, opening in late winter while it is still cold. They stand for hope and renewal, and a night viewing of the blossoms under the moon is a classic poetic theme.

Why it works on your wall

• Minimal and soothing: a natural choice for a bedroom, a reading corner or a meditation space.
• Soft greys and white: it fits Japandi, Scandinavian or minimalist interiors.
• Framing tip: a thin black frame and a wide white mount give it a gallery look.

The artist

Ohara Koson (1877–1945) is one of the great masters of kachō-e, the Japanese tradition of bird-and-flower prints. A leading name of the shin-hanga movement in the early 20th century, he is admired for the delicacy of his compositions and his poetic use of moonlight, rain and snow.

• Artist: Ohara Koson (1877–1945)
• Technique: Japanese woodblock print (shin-hanga, kachō-e)
• Subject: plum blossom under the full moon

Your print

• Colours restored from a high-definition scan of an original impression
• Printed in Europe on thick archival matte paper, FSC certified
• A wide choice of sizes, all designed for standard frames
• Free shipping, no minimum order. Shipped rolled in a sturdy tube

Discover all our Ohara Koson prints and our spring Japanese prints.