Kraaien in sneeuw 1900 - 1936

Ohara Koson made this woodblock print, "Kraaien in sneeuw", at an unknown date. The limited palette of black, white, and muted reds allows for a real focus on the mark-making process. I love the contrast between the smooth, flat planes of color and the intricate details, especially in the feathers of the crows and the delicate branches with their red berries. The snow is rendered as a soft, almost hazy ground, while the crows themselves are sharp and defined. The lines on the birds feel both precise and organic, capturing their shape and texture. Look at the bird on the right; its head is tilted upward, as if it is communicating with the other crows in the sky. To me this gives the work a feeling of dynamism. It reminds me of the work of Hiroshige, another master of Japanese prints, who captured the beauty of nature with such simplicity. Ultimately, art, like nature itself, thrives on ambiguity and multiple interpretations.