Songbird at hay bundle 1900 - 1930

This is a Japanese woodblock print of a songbird at a hay bundle by Ohara Koson, who lived from 1877 to 1945. Look at the careful layering of colors, so thin and translucent! I love the way the artist depicts this quiet scene. I can almost feel the hay's rough texture and the bird's delicate feathers. Notice the grey background, which reminds me of a misty morning, while the daffodil flowers add such a splash of freshness to the scene. And look at the little bird, perched there so serenely. I wonder what it's thinking? Koson was part of a wave of artists who revived traditional Japanese printmaking, bringing a modern sensibility to it. You see this continuation of a long conversation between artists and their materials. It makes you think about how we see and capture the world around us, doesn't it?