Crow at full moon 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson made this print of a crow at full moon sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. I just love how the image shimmers with a muted glow. It makes me think about that moment of quiet observation, you know? How Koson might have watched a crow perched on a branch against the night sky. There’s the solid dark presence of the crow in contrast to the soft, round moon behind it. The crow itself becomes an exercise in subtle gradations of black, almost velvety and luminous in places. And the blossoms! They frame the crow and the moon, adding another layer to the scene. What I find so interesting is that the moon could also be a flower, and the crow could also be a bud. It's a night scene, but there's a freshness to the print. The artist brings together ideas about nature and change, and then reminds us that the whole cycle is part of one big picture.