Fishing boats 1900 - 1945

Ohara Koson's "Fishing Boats" is a Japanese woodblock print that makes me think about how an artist coaxes forth depth and texture from a flat surface. Koson works with a muted palette, focusing on subtle gradations of tone to create a sense of atmosphere and distance. The water and sky seem to merge in a hazy, dreamlike space. There’s a wonderful contrast between the smooth, unbroken planes of the water and sky, and the vertical lines of the boats. Look closely at the reflections on the water, how Koson uses tiny marks to suggest ripples and movement. It's funny how such a still image can evoke such a dynamic scene. Koson reminds me of Whistler, who worked in a similar tonalist mode, capturing fleeting moments of light and atmosphere with deceptive simplicity. I love how this print embraces a certain ambiguity, inviting you to fill in the gaps and imagine your own story.