Nuthatch 1910

Ohara Koson made this print of a nuthatch among ripening persimmons, but we don't know exactly when. I wonder if he ever felt like he was perched precariously on a branch while creating? There’s such lightness to the work, a real sense of air and space. The branch cuts diagonally through the frame, daring to be different and a little off balance. Then the bird is almost hidden, but it draws your eye. Did you notice it right away? See how its soft white feathers and tiny beak are rendered with such delicacy? Koson's wider practice often features birds and flowers. This makes me think about the fleeting moments in nature, like a bird resting on a branch. There's a conversation happening here, not just between the artist and the natural world, but also between us, the viewers, and the print itself. These kinds of images, well, they invite us to slow down, observe, and appreciate the quiet beauty all around.