Grasshoper and Fool Moon 1910

Ohara Koson made this woodblock print of a grasshopper and full moon sometime between 1900 and 1930, and right away I’m struck by how delicate and considered it is. The artist uses a limited palette of muted grays, greens, and blues to create a serene, almost dreamlike atmosphere. There’s a real tactile quality in the way the image is built up. Look at the thin, almost transparent washes of color, and the way the artist captures the texture of the grass and the insect's body. It’s not just about depicting what’s there, but how it feels to be close to the earth. Notice the long blade of grass that extends across the frame, almost touching the moon. It's a beautiful, lyrical line that adds depth and movement to the composition, like a tiny bridge between the earth and the sky. Koson's work reminds me a little of James McNeill Whistler's muted nocturnes, that were also about capturing a feeling, an atmosphere, rather than a literal representation of a scene. Ultimately, Koson shows us how much can be said with subtlety and restraint.