While our images are electronically watermarked, the antique prints themselves are not.

Heron, Camelia BAI5 $295
Each print measure approximately 9 1/4 by 14 1/4 inches.

On a recent trip to Japan, we were very fortunate to come across these stunning woodblock prints. Bairei Kono was a highly renowned artist in the bird and flower painting school (kacho-ga) in the imperial city and old capital of Japan, Kyoto. For Bairei, it was a long journey, as he started his painting studies at the age of 8 in the Maruyama School of naturalist painting. At 27, he transferred to the Nanga School, which embraces the painting of natural history and botanical subjects in an expressive and less restrained manner. He was instrumental in establishing the Kyoto School of Painting, finally retiring to open his own studio to other painters.

His woodblock prints of birds and flowers are among the most revered and famous in Japan, where Bairei is compared to Audubon. He placed his subjects in their natural surroundings in compositions of great beauty, skill and accuracy. It was the height of the Japanese woodblock printing of the late 1800’s (Meiji Period). Bairei’s skill as an artist, combined with the superb craftsmanship of the wood block carvers and printers of the era to produce a work of breath taking beauty.

Each woodblock in the series was printed from six or seven blocks, to produce an image of vibrant colour and beauty. The red chop of Bairei is on each one. Each print measure approximately 9 1/4 by 14 1/4 inches and is on softly aged double rice paper, as pulled from the folder.

References include Jackson “Dictionary of Bird Artists”, 1999.