Two playing dogs 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson made this charming print of two dogs playing sometime between 1877 and 1945. You can feel the artist's interest in animals, and how they move. I can imagine Koson observing these dogs, watching how they interact and capturing their energy with just a few, elegant lines. I'm always excited when an artist is able to catch a moment of emotion and action like this. See how the dog at the back has its paws raised, it is all mouth and eyes, barking playfully. And then the other, climbing up, all paws and tail. It's like he is saying, "Hey, let's play!" It's that mix of control and spontaneity that I admire, and I feel it across Koson's prints of birds and animals. Artists are always bouncing off each other, aren’t they? Playing their way into art history!