Myna on Magnolia Branch 1900 - 1910

Ohara Koson created this print, ‘Myna on Magnolia Branch’, sometime between the late nineteenth and mid-twentieth century. Look at how the artist divides the composition into distinct sections. A bold black bird is perched on a branch in the upper half, with the pale magnolias dominating the lower half. Notice the lines in the woodblock. Koson uses them to define the bird's plumage and the petals of the flowers, giving each element a clear, graphic quality. This clarity is contrasted by the soft, muted background, which adds depth and a touch of serenity. The composition is a structured arrangement of natural forms that invites reflection on nature’s beauty and balance, and the interrelation between the natural elements. The graphic style emphasizes form and structure. It is a delicate balance between graphic clarity and atmospheric subtlety.