happy year of the monkey!

found on pinterest. believed pd in good faith

Happy Year of the Fire Monkey!  Is this your year?  Read about it here.  I should have posted this yesterday, but the Museum's internet went belly up.
To celebrate, here's this gentle print by Ohara Koson (1877-1945), "Monkey and Bee."  Kuson was a major artist of shin-hanga, a style influenced by Western themes yet traditionally portrayed.  This pet monkey in his pink vest, investigating his new friend, is a delightful example of a traditional Japanese animal/nature subject, showing empathy for his pleasant moment.