Japanese shrike on a maple tree. Series: Vintage Japanese prints by Studio Pieternel

● Exclusive design for Werk aan de Muur / Art Heroes. This Japanese vintage painting is a free adaptation (in the style of traditional Japanese embroidery) of the original, which hangs in the Rijksmuseum.

The original is a Japanese woodblock print depicting a Japanese waxwing. The bird is perched on a weathered branch of a Japanese maple, surrounded by bright red autumn leaves. The composition is elegant and asymmetrical, with the bird’s gaze drawing the viewer’s eye upwards. The signature and seal are visible in the bottom left-hand corner. The Artist The artist is Ohara Koson (1877–1945). He is regarded as the most important Japanese designer of nature prints in the early 20th century. Koson was originally trained as a painter in the nihonga style, but became world-famous for his woodblock print designs, which were in great demand in the West, particularly in the United States and Europe. The Style The work is a prime example of Kachō-e (flower-and-bird prints) and belongs to the Shin-hanga movement ("nieuwe prenten").

Adaptations from the original: The background has a very refined Japanese linen effect with a subtle full moon. The Pest Bird perched on a Japanese maple branch has been given the appearance of traditional embroidery. The overall image has been slightly enlarged so that the aspect ratio is now 3:4, meaning it will fit into many frames, such as an ArtFrame.