Mallards 1910

Ohara Koson made this woodblock print of mallards at some point during his lifetime. It's got me thinking about how artists across the ages, whether it's through paint or print, are always finding ways to capture the world as they see it. I love how Koson's used these subtle, muted tones to create such a serene yet dynamic scene. You can almost feel the chill of the air and the rush of the mallards' wings as they swoop down. I imagine him watching birds in his garden, maybe trying to distill the essence of their flight into a single image. And those stark, snow-covered reeds! They're not just details; they're active participants in the composition, jutting diagonally into the space. He knew that every mark, every color, contributes to the whole. It’s all one big conversation.