Yellow crested cockatoo in tree 1900 - 1940

Ohara Koson made this woodblock print of a yellow crested cockatoo in a tree. The soft grays, whites, and blues give it a hazy, dreamlike quality. It reminds me that artmaking is about exploring possibilities, not just capturing reality. Look at how Koson layers the colors to create depth. The leaves in the foreground are a darker blue-gray, while those in the background fade into a lighter gray, suggesting distance and atmosphere. The cockatoo itself is a study in white, with subtle variations in tone and texture that bring its feathers to life. Notice the delicate lines used to define each feather, capturing the bird's form and weight. It feels like he’s really studied his subject, but in a way that’s less about accuracy, and more about feeling. Koson’s work shares a sensibility with other Japanese printmakers like Hiroshige, but there's also something unique in his ability to capture the character of the natural world. For me, this piece serves as a reminder that art is about embracing ambiguity and celebrating the beauty of the world around us.