Ohara Koson (1877-1945)
Signed: 'Shoson'
Artist's seal: 'Shoson'
Publisher: Watanabe Shozaburo (Hotei seal 'C', consistent with printing 1927-32)
38.5 x 26.2 cm. (15 ⅛ x 10 ¼ in.)
Arguably Koson’s most famous image, Cockatoo and Pomegranate would have appeared strikingly new and modern to contemporary viewers due to its bold juxtaposition of the heavily embossed white feathers of the bird with a pitch-black, almost velvety background. Koson then cleverly balanced the composition with a sub-motif of the green leaves and ruby-red pomegranates.
http://emuseum.toledomuseum.org/objects/59231/pomegranate-and-parrot?ctx=fb2b3deb-5117-4795-b381-36f4212d6388&idx=35