Songbird at hay bundle 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson made this print of a Songbird at hay bundle, and well, it's just beautiful, isn't it? I think that one of the things that makes it so striking is how Koson simplifies the image. The hay bundle has this light yellow-ish glow, while the bird is detailed, but with restraint. It’s like he’s saying, “I know how to paint a bird, but what’s more interesting is how it sits within this quiet composition.” I find my eyes drawn to that bird. Its placement, perched on the thin branch, creates a focal point that anchors the whole scene. The gray background is subtle, almost disappearing, and it flattens the space, so there's not a lot of depth here. It's amazing how he manages to make it so poetic, using a few colours and simplified forms. Koson reminds me of other Japanese printmakers, like Hiroshige, but with a more modern sensibility.