Flock of ducks flying above snowy reed collar 1900 - 1945

Ohara Koson made this woodblock print of ducks sometime between the late 19th and early 20th century. I think it's a beautiful example of how artmaking can be a process of simplification. The scene is built from a series of strokes. Look at the reeds, each rendered with a confident, singular line. And how about the water? It’s suggested with the bare minimum of wavy gestures. I love the way Koson used the wood grain itself to create texture, giving the impression of falling snow. This print reminds me of the work of Hiroshige, especially in the way it captures a sense of atmosphere and mood. It's this kind of delicate, economical approach to image making that proves sometimes less really is more.