Crossbill on tree branch 1900 - 1910

This is 'Crossbill on tree branch' by Ohara Koson. The lack of date implies that the process of it's making was perhaps more important than a finished end product. Look at how Koson has used the medium, it feels like it could almost be watercolour. The washes of colour bleed into one another, giving everything a soft, gentle feeling. It seems very delicate, as if the bird might fly away at any moment. My eye is drawn to the feathers on the bird's back, the way each one is so carefully and distinctly rendered. It reminds me a little bit of James Audubon, who also painted birds. Although, Audubon's birds always feel so alive, whereas Koson's bird feels quieter, more contemplative. This makes me reflect on art as an evolving conversation over time, where artists build upon and respond to one another's ideas.