Oh yes, today's is ... BLUE MONDAY, also known as the most depressing day of the year. While the concept as a scientific phenomenon has been widely debunked, it continues to be discussed as a cultural meme and a reminder to focus on mental health during the winter months. Anyway, we hope you feel very well today; to enhance your mood, we are featuring these beautiful flowers by Ohara Koson.
It is a stunning example of the artist's mastery of shin-hanga (new prints), a Japanese art movement in the early 20th century that revitalized traditional ukiyo-e techniques. Koson, renowned for his exquisite woodblock prints of birds and flowers (kacho-e), often depicted the natural world with exceptional elegance, capturing its transient beauty. The flowers are depicted with elongated, graceful stems and intricately detailed petals, which seem to flutter delicately as if swaying in the wind. The background is minimal and subdued, allowing the irises to take center stage, enhancing their visual impact and ethereal quality.
Irises hold significant cultural meaning in Japan. They are often associated with purification and protection, particularly in Shōbu no Sekku (Boys’ Day Festival), when iris leaves are used in baths to ward off evil spirits. The blue irises in Koson’s work also evoke feelings of calm and introspection, aligning with the artist's ability to capture the harmony between nature and human emotion.
Have a great day today! Cheer up (if you haven't already)!
P.S. Do you know someone who loves ukiyo-e? If so, send them our beautiful Japanese Art Postcard set; which you can find in our DailyArt Shop. :)
P.P.S. Do you know who painted the most famous irises in art? You can find out here! The color blue also has a special significance in art. Discover color psychology in art!