Dragonfly and lotus 1900 - 1930

Ohara Koson made this woodblock print, Dragonfly and lotus, during his lifetime between 1877 and 1945. The composition, predominantly vertical, guides the eye upward from the lower right to the upper left with dark, organic forms contrasting against a soft, light background. The dark lotus leaves in the foreground create depth. The dragonfly, rendered with delicate lines, introduces a sense of fragility. Koson plays with positive and negative space, balancing the density of the flora with the airiness of the background, which creates a calming rhythm. The arrangement isn't merely representational; it challenges our perceptions. The print engages with a semiotic dialogue between nature and artifice, inviting us to decode its visual language. This piece doesn't simply depict a scene; it encourages us to question our understanding of seeing itself.