Details
Rendered with impeccable detail and quiet grandeur, Peacock on a Bough of Pine Tree exemplifies Ohara Koson’s celebrated command of the bird-and-flower genre. A regal peacock perches with composed elegance on a rugged pine limb, its shimmering tail cascading in a flourish of green, gold, and cerulean. Each feather is captured with breathtaking intricacy, suggesting the almost meditative precision for which Koson is renowned.

The contrast between the resplendent plumage and the weathered pine evokes a dialogue between beauty and endurance. The delicate tension in the composition—a luxuriant creature resting on a stark, twisting branch—creates a visual harmony at once balanced and alive. The pine’s brittle elegance, drawn in spare greys and washes of ink, subtly frames the bird’s vibrant form without overwhelming it.

Connoisseur’s Note
The peacock (kujaku) in Japanese iconography holds rich layers of meaning. Beyond its obvious splendor, it is a symbol of vigilance and spiritual purity, often associated with Buddhist lore where it represents compassion and the ability to transmute poison into benevolence. In this print, the bird’s poised stillness seems imbued with a quiet watchfulness, its gaze suggesting sentience as much as ornament.

Ohara Koson’s works bridge traditional ukiyo-e techniques with early 20th-century sensibilities. Here, the refinement of line and the use of bokashi lend depth without intrusion, allowing the image to breathe. Collectors of Koson will recognize this as one of his more majestic renderings—an image where color, composition, and serenity converge to arresting effect.