Crossbill on tree branch 1900 - 1910

This is Ohara Koson’s image of a crossbill on a tree branch. I am really moved by the economy of means. Koson made this image with such minimal tools, but creates a whole world in which to linger. I think of the artist there, with his carving tools and blocks, thinking and rethinking the image. What do you put in, what do you leave out? In the end, he’s left us just a branch, a few leaves, a bird, and some blossoms. But the color! Koson balances a gorgeous, muted palette. The cool gray branches, the soft gray of the sky, the pink blossoms, offset by the russet of the crossbill. I love the texture and the way the wood grain shows through, a constant reminder of the labor involved in making an image. I feel the artist’s breath as he looks and looks again at this image, trying to decide what is the smallest gesture that will bring it all to life. It’s a gesture so slight, so minimal, but like all great art it leaves room for contemplation.