Roodmaskeraalscholver op rots 1900 - 1936

Editor: This woodblock print, *Roodmaskeraalscholver op rots*, or Red-faced Cormorant on a Rock, is by Ohara Koson, sometime between 1900 and 1936. There’s this powerful presence, a stark silhouette against a stormy sea. I’m intrigued by how a few colours and lines manage to convey so much drama and isolation. What do you see in it? Curator: Ah, Koson! He had an exceptional talent for capturing the essence of nature, didn’t he? It’s more than just a pretty bird; it feels almost like a haiku translated into a visual form. I imagine Koson observing the cormorant, really *feeling* the bird's connection to its environment. You know, those rough brushstrokes mimicking the crashing waves, the almost aggressive stance of the bird. Have you ever felt that pull between wanting to brave the storm and needing solid ground? Editor: That push and pull is so tangible here! I love your haiku analogy! Do you think he chose a cormorant specifically because of its association with resilience, weathering harsh environments and still managing to thrive? Curator: Absolutely! Birds often symbolize freedom, and this cormorant seems like a rugged individualist refusing to be swept away. Look at how the other two seem more ethereal. Koson seems to be whispering to us that strength isn’t about being immune to the storm; it’s about finding your footing amidst it. This cormorant is rooted but also ready to take off at any moment. I wonder where it’s flying to next? Editor: Thinking about it, the artist creates this sense of tension between the sea and sky. I never thought I could find that much depth from a bird print. Curator: Exactly! The image invites contemplation of the fragile balance between permanence and change, resilience and vulnerability. Perhaps that's the magic trick with Koson. It certainly is magic.