Two veil tails 1900 - 1936

Ohara Koson made this print, Two Veil Tails, sometime between 1877 and 1945 with ink and color on paper. The pinks here are so delicate, almost like a whisper. There's a real sense of process, of seeing the artist’s hand at work. I love the way Koson captures the goldfish's bodies. Look closely, and you'll see the tiny, detailed scale marks against the ethereal pink of the fins. The water is implied through the slightest horizontal strokes, just enough to suggest movement and depth. This reminds me of the work of Helen Frankenthaler, especially her soak-stain paintings, the way she let the paint seep into the canvas. There’s a similar sense of letting go and allowing the medium to do its thing. It's a beautiful example of how simplicity and restraint can be so powerful, and how a limited palette can speak volumes.