Vogels in regen 1900 - 1936

Ohara Koson created the woodblock print, *Vogels in regen*, its date is unknown. The composition features two white birds set against a muted grey backdrop suggestive of rain. Note the dark leaves, and branches which partially obscure the scene, adding depth and a sense of enclosure. Consider the semiotic interplay between the birds and the rain. The whiteness of the birds might traditionally symbolize purity or peace, yet within the context of the rain, this symbolism is destabilized. The rain, often associated with cleansing, here blurs the clarity of the scene, challenging the fixed meaning of the birds' colour. Koson plays with the idea that signs can shift based on their environment, reflecting post-structuralist thought. The print uses colour and form to create an open-ended narrative. The rain, as an atmospheric condition, acts as a visual metaphor for uncertainty, suggesting that meaning is contingent and fluid, rather than fixed.