Moorhen 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson made this woodblock print of a moorhen at an unknown date. Look at how he uses such a muted palette, mostly greys and greens, to create a scene that feels both quiet and alive. The texture here is fascinating. You can almost feel the smoothness of the bird's feathers against the cool, still water. Notice the subtle gradations in the grey of the bird's body, achieved through the layering of ink. It's like Koson is whispering secrets about light and shadow. Then there's the water, rendered with flat planes and subtle patterns suggesting ripples. The reeds in the background, so elegantly rendered, feel almost like musical notes on a staff. It reminds me a bit of some of James Whistler's tonalist paintings, where atmosphere and mood take precedence over detail. Art is a conversation across time, and Koson certainly had something profound to add.