IJsvogel en irissen 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson made this woodblock print of a kingfisher and irises sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. What strikes me is the layering of the irises, grasses, and the bird. The composition is so skilled. The texture in this piece is implied through the varying colors and densities of the ink. Look at the irises, how their color bleeds softly from dark purple to a paler violet, each petal distinct, as if you could touch its velvety surface. Then look at the bird diving towards its prey, the lightness of its feathers captured with a delicate touch. Koson's attention to detail is incredible. Think of the way the bird's body mirrors the form of the irises, one upside down and one the right way up. You could say that it encourages us to reflect on artmaking as an act of catching ideas, the way a bird catches a fish. Koson's work, reminiscent of Japanese masters like Hiroshige, encourages us to slow down, to see the beauty in simple acts, and to understand art as an evolving conversation across time.