Water squeaker 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson made this print of a bird and some ferns, likely with woodblocks, and you can see his approach to mark making in the soft grey palette. It's as much about what's left unsaid as what’s made visible. Look at the bird; it's rendered with such precision. The artist coaxes such intricate detail from the wood, creating the texture of each individual feather. The fern fronds in the foreground are bolder, more assertive, and darker in tone, and they act almost like a screen, framing our view. But beyond them the world is all blurred and misty. It reminds me a little of Whistler, actually, or maybe even Cy Twombly. Koson is playing with a range of marks, mixing detail with vagueness. The overall effect is so dreamy and atmospheric; it's less about a precise depiction and more about a feeling.