Two siegeled redtails with cherry blossom 1900 - 1936

Ohara Koson made this print of two redtails and cherry blossom, the surface is built from delicate marks and a restrained palette. Koson’s touch is so deft. It's hard to tell exactly how he achieved these effects, but this sense of unknowability only adds to the work’s appeal. The birds are lovely, but notice the way the branch and cherry blossoms are constructed. The branches are simple but have a textural richness and depth which creates a sense of space around the birds. And the blossoms themselves, each petal delicately articulated, suggest that spring is well and truly in the air. The careful observation and understated rendering reminds me of Whistler. Like Whistler, Koson is looking for a certain mood, a visual harmony, a specific kind of beauty. He invites us to slow down, to contemplate, to appreciate the subtle pleasures of the everyday world. It's a quiet piece, but one that resonates long after you’ve moved on.