Monkey and reflection of the moon 1900 - 1936

Ohara Koson made this woodblock print of a monkey and the moon's reflection sometime between 1900 and 1936. Look closely, and you’ll see the process of artmaking, each layer of color carefully laid down. I’m drawn to the monkey’s hand stretching down towards the moon, a milky, opalescent pool at the bottom of the image. I love how the monkey’s fur is evoked with such simple marks, and yet, they give a real sense of volume to the body. The colours are muted, mostly greys and blacks, but they suggest so much depth and emotion. You can almost feel the cool night air and hear the quiet rustling of leaves. This print reminds me a little of the work of Helen Frankenthaler, who also experimented with the properties of ink to create these washes of luminous color.