Landschap met torii en herten 1900 - 1910

Ohara Koson made this woodblock print titled "Landscape with Torii and Deer." Considered one of the masters of *Shin-Hanga*, or "New Prints", Koson played with traditional *Ukiyo-e* techniques to reflect a rapidly modernizing Japan. Born in Kanazawa, Koson's lifetime encompassed the Meiji, Taisho, and Showa periods, a time of seismic shifts in Japanese identity. In this print, observe how Koson uses a subdued palette to create a tranquil scene, where the silhouettes of deer contrast against the ghostly torii gate and lantern. What does it mean to evoke a sense of timelessness, when the world around you is changing so dramatically? Koson balances tradition and modernity, inviting us to contemplate the enduring spirit of nature amidst cultural transformation. His ability to distill a scene to its essence, invites us to reflect on our own place within the ever-changing landscape of identity and history.