Water squeaker 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson made this print of a little bird and some plants, it's hard to know exactly when. Just imagine the artist carefully layering thin washes of color to build up the image, each layer sinking into the fibers of the paper. Look at the way the bird tilts its head, beak open, singing to the sky. I wonder what Koson was thinking as he carved the woodblocks, transferring his observations of the natural world into a simplified, elegant composition. The gray wash feels so gentle and light. It’s like the bird might just fly right off the page. The unfolding fern fronds add a touch of whimsy. Koson’s work reminds me of other artists who found inspiration in the everyday, like Hokusai or Hiroshige. Painting and printmaking—these are ways of seeing and feeling, shared across time and place, each artist adding their own voice to the chorus.